I stayed here for two nights as part of a friend's hen party and thoroughly recommend it to other groups of females looking to stay somewhere cosy, safe and friendly.
I arrived in Blackpool before the rest of the hens, so owners April and Mark (and Fifi the dog) were happy to let me hang out in their bar area and kept me company as I waited for the troops to come bounding in, excited about what the weekend had in store (mainly male strippers, drag acts and a hell of a lot of booze).
Once all the hens had arrived, April ran through a list of health and safety dos and don'ts with us - all part of creating a safer environment, which I thought was a good idea, considering we'd all be getting pretty damn wasted later on. There is CCTV in all communal areas of the property, which is also reassuring.
There are 14 rooms, each with an en-suite bathroom, TV, tea and coffee facilities and up to five beds. I shared a room with four other girls and although it was a bit of a squeeze, it provided a comfortable base for getting ready, napping between bars and passing out in the small hours.
I managed to sleep well, thanks to earplugs and an eye mask, however, one of the girls said they woke up around 4am when she heard people arguing on the street outside. When she looked out of the window, she saw a man with his pants down! Well, this IS Blackpool...!
Breakfast is served in a cute back room, where you're welcome to eat in your pyjamas. Everyone's in the same boat so it's full English breakfasts all round, accompanied by strong coffees and fresh orange juice for a much-needed vitamin C boost.
If I dare to go back to Blackpool (I'm still suffering today), I'll definitely stay at the Hayward again. It's super-close to Blackpool North train station and just a stone's throw from the town centre and seafront. And with over 30 places to eat within a half mile radius, you really can't ask for much more. read more
