Our Journey

Blackpool North Station has been welcoming visitors since 1846, evolving alongside the town’s rise as a classic seaside resort. It was rebuilt in 1898 to handle booming seaside crowds, and despite being flagged for closure in the 1960s, it survived while Blackpool Central shut in 1964.

Black and white photo of a busy train station in Paris with a steam locomotive, train cars, people on the platform, the Eiffel Tower, and a Ferris wheel in the background.

1846

Historical black and white photo of a busy city street outside a train station labeled 'Central Station'. The station building has a clock and a small tower. There is a covered entrance and numerous people walking, standing, and riding bicycles in front of the station, with shops and buildings on either side.

The station was dramatically reshaped in 1974 to accommodate growing passenger numbers, it remains Blackpool’s main rail gateway and a key part of the Talbot Gateway regeneration, launched in 2014 to transform the area around Talbot Road.

Today

Following the success of Platform 9 Bar & Kitchen, our journey continues. Building on the energy, atmosphere and warm welcome that made the bar such a hit, we’ve now expanded into the restaurant side of the hotel. It’s the same relaxed, social spirit, just with more space to sit back, share great food and turn a quick stop into a longer stay.

1974

People walking in front of a red brick train station with a clock tower in the background, cars parked along the street, and a traffic light showing red.
Escape from the City railway station signs with parked cars outside.
Modern bar counter with beer taps, glassware shelves, and alcohol bottles, inside a stylish restaurant called Platform Bar & Kitchen.
Interior of a bar and lounge area with a beige sofa and decorative pillows with geometric patterns, and a menu or flyer on a table in the foreground. The background has a bar with liquor bottles and hanging lights.

Platform 9 Bar & Kitchen takes its name from the station’s original eight platforms with us proudly standing as the ninth, continuing the journey just steps from the tracks