'All of these hotels could have gone up, they're all full'
This morning, the Irish Sea twinkled in the April sunlight - a serene sight and stark contrast with the troubling spectacle that unfolded metres away yesterday afternoon.
Lesley from nearby Bispham expressed her anger over the fire and speculated at the cause. She asked: "Why set something alight? Sally from Ramsbottom, and her husband regularly visit Blackpool, staying at the Cliffs Hotel, adjacent to the New Hackett, separated by metres thanks to a side street running perpendicular to the Promenade
It was a similar situation for other locals and holidaymakers, as the tram and buses had terminated at the end of the Promenade. The pair are regulars at the Miner's Hotel down the road, having holidayed there for around 15 years, as George is an ex-miner. Cath reminisced about visiting the New Hacketts when it was open to the public: "We used to have some good nights in there, years ago.
He said: "I saw all of the smoke, all of the commotion, it was really really bad. Since then, Empress Drive has been used as a way through for all of the cars, so it's been really really noisy." The couple arrived as the fire broke out yesterday afternoon. Irene said: "We arrived just as the fire started and when we arrived obviously, the road was closed so we had to go around the back.
She added: "I think it's not very nice for it to happen really, it's a shame. It's a lovely old building isn't it? That would have made a nice new hotel again." The eyewitness to the incident had her shift from 9am to 2pm, finishing only 46 minutes before the fire first broke out and had to return at 4pm for the later shift. "I had to go to Thornton, pick my son up and come back for my four until eight shift," she explained.
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