Blackpool hotel guests face hefty fines for viewing matches
Guests at the Blackpool FC Stadium Hotel risk facing fines of up to £2,500 simply for looking out of their pitch-view bedroom windows during matches, reports BritPanorama.
The hotel, operated by Radisson Individuals, requires visitors in Executive Pitch View rooms to keep their curtains drawn a full 90 minutes before any home game and to remain closed throughout the match. This policy is enforced despite room tariffs escalating to £137 per night on match days, where once hospitality boxes have been converted into temporary accommodations.
A recent stay by a journalist during a Blackpool versus Bradford City fixture highlighted the surprise surrounding this policy. Checking in at 1.45pm, just over an hour before kick-off, they received no prior notification regarding the curtain requirement, according to the Telegraph.
A hotel receptionist confirmed the seriousness of the potential penalty, indicating that guests could indeed incur a fine if caught watching the match through their window. However, the documentation provided with the room key only included checkout times and breakfast details, failing to mention the restrictions. Observers noted that curtains remained open, allowing an unobstructed view of players warming up.
Staff acknowledged that the hotel does not actively enforce this regulation, stating, “Yeah, so we don’t really police it as a hotel, but you absolutely need to draw the curtains. Apparently, you could be fined £2,500 if you’re caught.” This peculiar guideline is grounded in the Sporting Events Act 1985, which prohibits spectators from consuming alcohol within sight of pitches at matches in the top five tiers of English football, placing the hotel in a legally precarious position.
Moreover, English Football League regulations mandate that anyone watching a match must possess a valid ticket, with violations potentially resulting in fines and bans. The Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Bill, currently advancing through the House of Lords, could further complicate enforcement over time.
In contrast to this restrictive approach, the Bolton Stadium Hotel, another property under the Radisson Individuals brand, permits guests to enjoy matches from their pitch-view bedrooms without the need to close curtains, although the consumption of drinks on balconies is prohibited and stewards monitor the games.
The situation has not gone unnoticed, garnering complaints from hotel patrons caught off guard by the viewing rules. On the match day in question, many pitch-side rooms appeared vacant, possibly leading to lost revenue for both the football club and the hotel. One local supporter candidly remarked, “£137 for that? I wouldn’t be drawing the curtains to watch them at the moment anyway.” Blackpool FC has been approached for comment.
