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IN VIEW


on the scene, including the Hampton by Hilton and Holiday Inn, which played a key part in the Talbot Gateway regeneration project.


John Westhead says of his latest investment: “No expense has been spared on the creation of The Glass Tower, a spectacular offering to rival anything that Manchester, Liverpool and London have to offer and bringing something truly inspirational to Blackpool.


Real funding. Real deals.


“We are creating a brand that people can trust and that delivers excellence consistently. When our guests interact with Central Beach Leisure, whether in accommodation or our bar or restaurant, we want them to experience and enjoy guaranteed quality, service and excellence.”


Real decisions. Growing a business, planning an acquisition, or exploring investment? This is where you’ll learn how funding really works.


ROOMS WITH A VIEW


Blackpool-born entrepreneur John Westhead is filled with confidence for the future of his home town – so much so his business has ploughed more than £15m in its hotel and hospitality sector.


Steve Bell Pierce


Martin Emmott Rosebud


The latest investment by the Central Beach Leisure company has seen the £3.5m transformation of an iconic seafront hotel into luxury boutique accommodation.


Founded by John and Elishar Westhead and their partners, the business has transformed the landmark Royal Carlton Hotel on Central Promenade into The Glass Tower.


With 38 bedrooms and new restaurant and bar called XI (Eleven) it stands out as a glittering


signature destination on the famous Golden Mile. Central Beach Leisure has spent more than £15m on hotel and premier serviced accommodation schemes in Blackpool and on the Fylde coast, with 35 suites available and another 45 coming on stream by May.


The Glass Tower highlights that the drive to improve hotel standards in the resort is continuing, with some spectacular successes.


In 2023 and 2024 the seafront Boulevard Hotel was officially named the Best Luxury Hotel in Northern Europe. A £12m investment by Pleasure Beach Blackpool, it opened its doors in 2019.


International hospitality brands have arrived View from the gallery Derry Green Secret Garden Glamping Ben Smith Kingsley Asset Finance


Date: 17 June 2026 Time: 08.30-11.00 Venue: Village Hotel Blackpool


Brought to you by: Express your interest here In association with: Supported by:


Sitting down to write this piece has been difficult. The government lurches from one crisis to another, with most rooted in Keir Starmer’s poor political judgement.


And despite what Labour MPs might say, this matters. The Prime Minister must not only make big decisions but command authority around the cabinet table so that when he convenes ministers, solutions are found.


Yet his standing with both cabinet and country is collapsing, and Labour look to be going through an informal leadership contest.


In my last article I wrote about the missing


Defence Investment Plan. Sadly, I don’t think any of us are surprised that we are still waiting even as a new Middle East war exposes our vulnerabilities. Why? Because Starmer is unable or unwilling to break the impasse between Rachel Reeves at the Treasury and John Healey at the MoD.


And that same weakness is crippling our energy security too. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Conservatives approved new nuclear, launched the small modular reactor competition, and gave the green light to two major North Sea fields:


Jackdaw, a significant gas field that could start producing as early as late this year,


THE INDECISION HAS GOT TO END By Antony Higginbotham


Former Member of Parliament for Burnley


Further down the Prom on North Shore, two family-owned hotels have unveiled their new look following an investment of more than £1m in refurbishment projects.


The Elgin and Sheraton Hotels on Queens Promenade are run by brother and sister Nigel Seddon and Liz Brown.


Nigel said: “As ever, we will do all that we can to keep raising standards in Blackpool and exceeding guests’ expectations by continuing to enhance our offering.”


Meanwhile, the future of an iconic seafront hotel is the subject of much debate. The Metropole Hotel is one of Blackpool’s oldest buildings and uniquely sits directly on the seaward side of the Promenade.


For almost five years it has been used as asylum accommodation, however the Home Office announced in April that it would no longer be used for that purpose by the end of July 2026.


Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council, welcomed the news, saying: “It was a glorious hotel once and I want it to be loved and restored and part of our vision to make Blackpool better.”


and deliver up to 6.5 per cent of UK North Sea gas output at peak, and Rosebank, the UK’s largest undeveloped oil field with around 300 million barrels of recoverable oil, potentially coming on stream in 2026–27.


Soon after coming into office Labour put a stop to both of these though, and even as the Iran conflict is driving up petrol prices, energy costs, and global travel, Ed Miliband still refuses to give the green light.


As a result, Rachel Reeves has been forced into reactive firefighting, expanding the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme to cut bills for manufacturers. But this is not strategy, it is damage limitation.


Starmer’s indecision has left British industry more exposed, not less. Lancashire businesses need domestic energy security, not another short-term patch.


The government must fast-track Jackdaw and Rosebank, cut regulatory delays, and deliver a credible long-term plan – before more jobs and competitiveness are lost.


antony@antonyhig.co.uk


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