Cool Places
No. 10 Bar
Imperial Hotel North Promenade Blackpool FY1 2HB
House bar at the grande-dame Imperial hotel – one of Blackpool's most historic addresses – is the No.10, the long-time haunt of politicians, spin-meisters and journos who wash up here whenever a party conference is in town (a less regular occurrence these days than it used to be). It's a solidly traditional joint – stained glass, chandeliers, wood paneling and clubby seating – which is short on atmosphere most days but long on photographs and mementoes of Britain's Prime Ministers stretching back to the days of Lloyd George. It's obviously best if you can catch a bleary-eyed MP being harangued by a sewer-mouthed Malcolm Tucker-style political aide, but failing that, a photo-op drink in front of a pic of Blair or Thatcher will have to do.
