We had a great start to the New Year at the Imperial Hotel in Blackpool, we went on a Heritage tour of this majestic Victorian hotel finding out about its history and enjoying a lovely afternoon tea. As a special treat for 2017 I also enjoyed their famous “Mayflower Spirit” cocktail in the No. 10 bar after the tour had finished.
I applied a thin layer of Parchment acrylic paint to the page using a baby wipe. Once it had dried I added strips of tissue paper which had a lovely holly design; it reminded me of the luxurious silken wallpapers at the hotel. I arranged the tissue strips so they looked like the panels we saw in many of the rooms whilst on our tour and used a UHU Stic to stick them down. Next I stamped ornate picture frames using black Archival Ink to depict the beautiful plaster work, pictures and mirrors found at the hotel. I stamped the frame onto some of the holly tissue paper, then fussy cut the centre oval and added it to the centre of the frames I had stamped on the page using a UHU Stic. I collected a variety of booklets, leaflets and postcards from the hotel reception during our visit and used these as part of my design. I cut the images out with Fun Cut scissors to give them a serrated edge and used a Cold Grey Faber-Castell Big Brush marker along the edge to give them more definition, then stuck them to the page with a UHU Stic or double-sided foam tape. For the palm tree I stamped the image onto the back of one of the postcards from the hotel using Archival Ink. I also saved the tea bag tags from the green tea we had as part of our afternoon tea and added them to finish the page.
The Imperial Hotel, Blackpool, opened in 1867 and is situated on the North Promenade seafront and enjoys spectacular views over the beach and sea. The hotel retains the opulence and glamour of its Victorian heyday, and has welcomed a host of famous guests including Charles Dickens, Sir Winston Churchill, Fred Astaire, The Beatles, Princess Margaret and Princess Anne.
The Churchill Room was named to honour the many visits Sir Winston Churchill made to the Imperial when he was prime minister and leader of the Conservative party. The room is much the same as the old photograph, although with one surprise. Recently, the photograph pictured has come to light and it shows a magnificent stained glass domed ceiling in the room. Exploratory holes were drilled into the current ceiling to discover that the stained glass ceiling is still there, although it’s not in great condition and is estimated to cost over a million pounds to restore.
The Grill Room is now the Louis XVI Function Room and has the most beautiful plaster work, wall coverings, mirrors and chandeliers.
The Palm Court is now the Dining Room and looks very elegant especially with the beautiful dome chandeliers. In Victorian times, palm trees were considered very exotic and a demonstration of wealth.
The Ballroom now called the Washington Suite has one of the best dance floors in Blackpool and the most wonderful plaster work of cherubs, flowers and sea creatures. The National Dance Championships have been held in Blackpool since 1920 and the Imperial Hotel is very popular with competitors as they can practice on the dance floor before heading off to the competition.
Recently the hotel discovered that a room used for storage of employee files was once an impressive suite of Russian, Turkish and seawater plunge baths which were built in 1901, but had been plastered over and hidden. They are slowly being restored in conjunction with the Blackpool Civic Trust. In the photo (above) you can see that the magnificent tiles were painted and then plastered over and part of this has now been removed to reveal the original tiles once more.
The original glass-roofed billiard room retains its stained glass canopy but has been turned into a bar and named No. 10 after all the UK prime ministers who have stayed at the Imperial whilst in office.
During the tour we found out about the Head Cocktail Bartender who had won a national competition to invent a new cocktail in the 1950’s, so we had to try one. It was one of those all shots and no mixer cocktails, and was delicious and very warming! I’m saying a big “cheers” to the T-Gang over at T Stands for Tuesday – Happy T Day!
Not forgetting our lovely afternoon tea served on beautiful fine china. We choose green tea to accompany the finger sandwiches with traditional fillings of ham and mustard, egg and cress and smoked salmon with cucumber, Victoria sponge, strawberry Eton Mess, chocolate delice, mini lemon tart and warm fruit scone with strawberry jam and clotted cream. I’m sorry, but it looked and tasted so yummy that we tucked in before we remembered to take a photo.
As this page tells the story of our visit to this magnificent old hotel, I’m very pleased to join Erica from BioArtGal who is hosting January’s theme of “Tell me a Story” over at Art Journal Journey.
Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.
Here is a list of all the materials used to create this art journal page:
- Liquitex Artist Color Acrylic (Parchment)
- Ranger Archival Ink (Jet Black)
- Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Cold Grey IV 233)
- Uni Pin Fine Line marker (Black 0.1mm)
- Uniball Signo gel pen (White)
- Crafter’s Companion Vintage Collection Acrylic Stamp (Floral Sentiments VF-ST-PSENT)
- Hampton Art Graphic 45 cling mounted rubber stamps (Tropical Travelogue ICO134)
- Aldi The Night Before Christmas Range (Printed Tissue)
- The Imperial Hotel history booklet, postcard and leaflets
- Fun Cut scissors
- UHU Stic
- The Range double-sided foam tape
Oh my – I hope the money can be found to restore that marvelous stained glass dome! Thanks for the fascinating tour of the Imperial Hotel. That’s a great photo of you with the classic cocktail.
Cheers and Happy T Day to you, Jo!
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Thanks a lot for your comments and joining me on the tour :-). Wishing you happiness this T Day! J 🙂
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what a gloriously magnificent building!!! I certainly hope it will continue to strive in all its splendor. Wonderful journal page to remember your special visit Jo. And that cocktail along with the lunch and tea looks divine-no wonder you look so happy:):) Happy T day!
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Thank you Linda! It was a great way to start the year and a visit worth remembering :-). Happy T day! J 🙂
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You always go to such cool historical places. The Imperial Hotel is gorgeous. I think I would have had one of those cocktails too You look great in that photo. And I would have had tea also, because those little sweets looks yummy. And a little warm tea on a winter’s day is nice to. Loving your page too. Happy T day and thanks for joining us at AJJ. Hugs-Erika
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Thanks so much Erica! I’m sure you would have enjoyed the tour, afternoon tea and of course the cocktail … lol :-). Thanks for hosting AJJ and wishing you a very Happy T Day! J 🙂
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Sorry I’m late visiting. My old computer had a major meltdown, and I had to reboot it twice in order for it to run again. I’ll be glad when I get my new one back.
I am once again in awe of the way you create your lovely journal page to match your story and day out and about. It’s a beautiful page, and I can see why you created those stripes.
The hotel is beautiful, and the journal page echoes that, right down to the green tea tag. Your afternoon tea looks awesome and I’m so hungry, I would gladly join you for these treats.
Thanks for sharing the journal page (with T Tuesday and AJJ) and your cocktail and afternoon tea with us for T this Tuesday.
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No worries and thanks for your kind comments :-). The hotel was a beautiful place and I’d be happy to share the afternoon tea treat with you. Happy T Day! J 🙂
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Oh, that does look elegant, and the china pattern reminds me of my own so now I’m feeling just a bit elegant myself 😉 Happy T Tuesday 🙂
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How lovely to own such china, you really make me smile and must be very elegant indeed … lol :-). Happy T Tuesday! J 🙂
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oh my what a glorius hotel, iam glad you are happy,tea in the afternonn is good 🙂
your page so romantic and elegant,love this.
wishing you a happy week.
hugs jenny
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Thank you Jenny! I’m glad you like the page too :-). Have a great week! J 🙂
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Looks like you has a wonderful trip there, thanks for sharing your wonderful art and photos.
Thanks, to, for making another lovely page for AJJ, and happy T Day, hugs, Valerie
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We had the most wonderful time. Happy T Day dear Valerie!J 🙂
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Oh WOW, that is an amazing hotel. Its so good that we keep some of these buildings and their interiors for everyone to enjoy. Super photos of your visit and the afternoon tea looks delicious.
You designed a great page to have a a reminder of your visit.
Happy T Day
Yvonne xx
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Thanks so much Yvonne! We really enjoyed ourselves, it was a great way to start 2017. Happy T Day! J 🙂
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Jo i just love the places you take us. This is so fabulous… How wonderful that they are uncovering how it used to look and going thru the trouble and expense to put it back the way it was. Those tiles are just lovely…. I hope they find the money to keep going. Look at you enjoying your cocktail!! 🙂 Happy T day! Hugs! deb
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Thanks very much Deb! We love to support places like this and had such a wonderful time on the tour exploring all the different rooms. The cocktail was yummy :-). Happy T Day! J 🙂
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Such a beautiful old hotel!!! Love all of the details ♥♥♥♥ Thanks for sharing and Happy T Day!!!!!
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Thanks so much and wishing you a very Happy T Day! J 🙂
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awesome Piece, i especially like the Palm tree stamp! and what a wonderful Picture of you with the Cocktail! cheers and happy t-day!
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I’m so glad I had the palm tree stamp :-). I did enjoy the cocktail maybe we should all try it to celebrate T Day, cheers! J 🙂
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Your page of the Imperial Hotel is beautiful and a very good memory of this visit! And all your photos of the hotel and its details are great!
Happy T day! It’s a wonderful sunny photo of you and your drink!
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Thanks very much! It was a fun page to create and the cocktail was delicious :-). Happy T Day! J 🙂
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That glorious Imperial Hotel is indeed a treasure WOW!
Your page is wonderful in every detail.
Keeping the hotel in good repair and sparkling must cost heaps and so much work.
Glad it is in such good hands.
Your scone looks luscious and your tea sandwiches sounded yummy too.
Cute photo of you getting roses cheeks from that special warming drink 😉
Happy T Day dear Jo oxo
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We really enjoyed the tour, I love the Victorian era and it was fascinating to find out all about the history. Many of the rooms were in the public areas so we explored the rooms again after our afternoon tea. That’s how we ended up in the bar trying the special cocktail (well that’s my excuse anyway … tee hee) and I definitely had rosy cheeks after I had finished it too 😉 . Thanks so much and Happy T Day! J 🙂
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A wonderful page dear Jo! Elegant like the hotel is! And what a wonderful photo of you with the cocktail – seems it tasted very good – you look happy – I love to see your photos – you look so friendly all along the line♥♥♥l! A glorious place is this – wow …really impressive! Great that you had such a super start there!
Thank you for sharing all this with us at Art Journal Journey and
Happy T-Day my friend!
oxo
Susi
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Thank you, that’s so very kind of you! It was a wonderful place and I was impressed by all the original plaster work and architectural details – amazing! Happy T Day dear Susi! J 🙂
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Thank you for the grand tour of the Imperial Hotel, it is truly magnificent!
I always collect the “free” brochures at the reception desks of the places we stay too. Just never know when they will turn into art. *grin* Your journal pages are beautiful and now full of memories.
Happy T-Day
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I always try to remember to collect leaflets when we visit places too :-). Happy T Day! J 🙂
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You do have such terrific outings and thanks for taking us along too.
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Thanks so much for stopping by, I didn’t think you would have time this week – I hope you are having a lovely time with your visitors :-). Enjoy and wishing you a wonderful week! J 🙂
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Your journal page is a wonderful way to remember your trip. the Imperial Hotel is certainly impressive. I’m always amazed how previous generations just plastered or painted over stunning art work. So glad someone has the sense to spend time restoring an conserving. Your cream tea looks delicious as well as beautiful Thanks for sharing
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It was amazing to see all the wonderful work that is being done to restore the tile work. Thank you and wishing you a Happy T Day! J 🙂
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What a wonderful hotel! And your journal page totally does it justice!
I enjoyed the tour. It certainly is a magnificent building. I hope that somehow they find the money to restore that beautiful dome. I also like the old tiles. What a find!
Yes, I know there is a lot of dancing going on in Blackpool. Strictly Come Dancing usually does one transmission from Blackpool.
Now that coctail looks scrumtious. Great photo too. You are obviously enjoying yourself.
Belated happy T-day,
Hugs,
Lisca
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Thank you Lisca! It would be wonderful to see the dome restored to all its glory, wouldn’t it :-). I love watching Strictly and as we are local I always apply for tickets to see the show at The Tower Ballroom, not been lucky yet, maybe one day :-). I think you would enjoy the cocktail too, cheers and Happy T Day! J 🙂
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Really stunning hotel, and gorgeous art work you’ve created! So cool that you use these trips and experiences to inspire your art pieces!
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Many thanks Dianne and wishing you a great week! J 🙂
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What a beautiful place. I love how your page mirrored some of the tile and wall motif in your photos. Very cool.
Happy T day!
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Thank you, I’m pleased with how this page evolved :-). Happy T Day this Wednesday! J 🙂
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Wow! This really was a great treat, the hotel looks amazing! I love how you made your journal page!
Belated happy T day! Chrisx
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Thanks a lot Chris! It was a lovely treat to start the year. Happy belated T day! J 🙂
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