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The cast, crew, presenters and judges of Strictly Come Dancing are no strangers to loud cheers, occasional screeches and heaps of fun.
However, waking up to the sight of a rollercoaster zooming past their windows might be a new experience for them. This could have been the case when Strictly made its grand return to Blackpool in 2022 after a three-year hiatus.
Most of the production team, including the celebrities and their professional partners, lodged at the Big Blue Hotel, situated right next to Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Some rooms are just a stone's throw away from roller-coaster tracks, including the Big One and the Big Dipper. The hotel boasts a prime location, just a short stroll from the seafront and operates throughout the year.
Owned by the same company that runs the neighbouring £12m luxurious Boulevard Hotel, where former Prime Minister Boris Johnson stayed earlier this year, the Big Blue Hotel gets its name from its blue exterior and some interior features, reports Lancs Live.
However, don't anticipate an overwhelming nautical theme (aside from the massive fish tank at reception and the potholes in the corridors), as much of the interior also sports a retro 70s' brown colour. Here's everything you need to know about the four-star Big Blue Hotel, from its rates to what's on the breakfast menu.
How much does it cost to stay the night?
For those looking to enjoy a midweek getaway, the standard double room at Big Blue will cost you £80, including a hike to £99 if you opt for breakfast.
However, weekend stays see a significant jump in price coinciding with the theme parks Winter Weekends in November and the launch of Christmas festivities.
A standard double room leaps to £195, or £180 with included breakfast. For £225, guests can bag a room and a coveted Pleasure Beach pass.
If space is a priority, deluxe rooms start from £185 a night, and family-friendly quarters from £195 on weekends. For a touch of luxury, the suites with king-size beds start at £300 per night.
Scrumptious breakfast buffet
Turning to the first meal of the day, Strictly stars such as Kym Marsh, Hamza Yassin, Will Mellor, Helen Skelton and Fleur East may have started their day with a hearty British buffet breakfast at the hotel's restaurant, or perhaps they chose the comfort of room service.
Blues Bar and Brasserie offers an array of breakfast delights, including freshly cooked lean meats, perfectly fried and scrambled eggs, an assortment of pastries, fruits, cereals, various juices, and the staples of tea, coffee, and toast.
In a recent review after a stay, LancsLive praised the breakfast at the Big Blue, they said: "The bacon and sausages were hot, lean and still sizzling, with no excessive pools of grease left behind on the plate.
"The fried eggs were cooked to perfection while the scrambled eggs were fluffy and creamy and subtly seasoned with salt and pepper." There was even applause for the infamous "conveyor belt toaster of doom".
They shared: "We didn't have to risk sending it through again to its inevitable black charred death, which is what usually happens when it comes out looking anaemic after the first run. Result."
Location Location Location
The lavish hotel is situated minutes away from the promenade and a short walk from a trams stop. It is also an approximate five-minute stroll from the South Pier and the Sandcastle Waterpark.
Rooms at the rear of the hotel face the Pleasure Beach, while the front ones overlook the car park. The hotel offers a number of packages, including theatre tickets and theme party entry.
It has an onsite gym, resident bar and 24-hour reception.
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