Dalmeny Dazzles in Sunny St Annes

The Dalmeny Hotel on South Promenade, St Annes is a hotel with a big heart.  It welcomes you with open arms whether you’re two or eighty-two and I don’t know what customer service training regime the hard working General Manager, Martin Evans deploys, but whatever it is, it works beautifully.  From the minute we arrived, we encountered staff who took pride in their job and seemed happy in their work.  The front of house team staff married efficient service with pleasant conversation and a smile.  Oh sweet joy! After so many surly encounters on regular business trips to old London town, I was impressed.  It soon became apparent this friendly attitude wasn’t a one-off either, every member of staff we encountered was helpful and considerate – even at busy periods.

Our premier room was contemporary and stylish.  With all the mod-cons, from flat screen TV and fridge to a large bathroom and separate toilet, it was well thought out and spotlessly clean.  With extra milk in the fridge, a note pad on hand to enable you to report any items that needed attending to by maintenance – you got the sense that attention to detail was important.  A large, busy hotel like this (it has 125 bedrooms) could become unwieldy and careless but no such worries here. Our French windows led onto a small, yet perfectly adequate balcony with a really enchanting view of the sea and exquisitely manicured public gardens (top marks St Annes Council).  Whilst hubby set off for his evening run, I poured myself a glass of wine and sat out there enjoying the evening sun and felt the stresses and strains of the week just melt away.  The perfect precursor to dinner in the light and airy Atrium Restaurant.

Head Chef, Damian Saxon has ensured that The Atrium menu features locally-sourced produce and includes a well-chosen selection of starters (smoked salmon and crab with potato salad and caper dressing and confit of honey glazed duck leg with pickled cucumber and her salad), main courses (Thai style green curry with braised rice and pak choi and Pan seared cutlet of Pilling lamb with fondant potatoes, baby carrots, fine beans and thyme jus as just two examples) and desserts (Pistachio-flavoured chocolate brownie with clotted cream and warm pear and almond tart with vanilla ice cream).  Prices for starters all £5.50 and main courses from £13.00 and the hotel secured one of the highest ratings in the Taste Lancashire accreditation scheme – so great quality as good value for money. Hotel residents have a choice of dining options with the Carvery being the mainstay of the dinner, bed and breakfast rate (and included in the price) although you can take dinner in The Atrium with an allowance of up to £17.50 included per person.

We had pre-dinner drinks in the bar first where the restaurant manager told us about dishes of the day and took our order.  After a short time we were accompanied to our table in the light and spacious restaurant.  The food was delicious and service unobtrusive yet attentive.  The atmosphere is grown-up and relaxed – probably would have been nice to have some music in the background and I did notice a piano so no doubt the place does have the potential to step up a gear in terms of entertainment.   Mainly couples and small groups of adults were dining the night we ate, with just a handful of well-behaved children having dinner with their parents. 

The following morning after a good buffet breakfast, I decided to book a treatment in the hotel’s award-winning Spa Dalmeny (only one or two appointments were left that day so that filled me with confidence - I’ve never found a good salon with an empty diary).  We caught the bus to Blackpool, had a stroll along the front and around the shops, then bought some books at Waterstones and headed back for a light lunch and an afternoon of relaxation on our balcony.  We were graced with fantastic weather so it couldn’t have been better. 

Later in the afternoon, I summoned up the energy for a swim then headed off for my back and shoulder massage.  It was administered with aplomb by my therapist Gaby who was bright and bubbly despite having been busy all day.  It soon became clear why this place is a haven for both residents and local people alike, if I lived nearer I would certainly be a regular.  The range of treatments and therapies is excellent and the whole experience very enjoyable(incidentally it is a Decleor Aroma Gold Spa).  A final bit of people-watching on the balcony followed (so many joggers and the boating-lake was busy all day long) whilst hubby watched cricket in the bar, then time for dinner with my parents who joined us for an overnight stay themselves.

In the morning we tested ourselves on the pitch and putt just across the road from the hotel, and although it was a tad windy and at times rainy, it didn’t matter as we still had fun.  As we drove home to Cheshire, we both said we’d definitely return.  With three older children and many years of marriage behind us, this was actually one of the rare occasions where we had gone away just the two of us.  It didn’t matter that the place was full of families enjoying the last days of summer, somehow it made us feel all the more at one with the place. 

St Annes is genteel and elegant with an air of prosperity and pride.  It is pleasing to the eye and full of simple pleasures and friendly faces.  There is a sense that people feel safe here – young and old. The squeals of laughter ringing out from the outdoor paddling pool and the number mums with  pushchairs adorned with brightly coloured buckets and spades and dads and granddads laden with picnic hampers and pop-up chairs clearly indicated that paddling and building sandcastles are still on every child’s top ten pursuit list – and luckily neither cost the earth.  There are bars and restaurants to explore if food and drink is your thing and, of course, if golf is your passion then you’re in luck.  There are three golf courses within a ten minute drive from the hotel, including Royal Lytham St Annes and Fairhaven.  The Dalmeny Hotel offers mid-week golf packages including accommodation and specially negotiated green fees.

So, the big-hearted Dalmeny is to be recommended for a traditional, good-value sea-side break and is especially suited to those with families who are looking for flexibility and good quality facilities.  As long as you run with the spirit of the place and are not averse to children then it’s in a great location, excellent value for money and above all jolly good fun.  The owners, general manager and staff should be proud of what they’ve achieved here - occupancy levels are above 95% this year and repeat customers abound.  Autumn breaks (including illumination specials are filling up fast) as is this year’s three-night New Year Break.

Fact Box

The Dalmeny Hotel is 3* yet punches above its weight in every way.

Facilities include a spa, indoor swimming-pool, bars, concierge, shop, well equipped gymnasium and studio with daily classes, excellent crèche and children’s activity programme as well as a special computer/games suite for older children.

There are numerous dining options including The Atrium Restaurant and Carvery Restaurant.

Premier rooms, family rooms and standard rooms with various options including sea-view and garden rooms are available.

The hotel is just a five minute walk from the shops and main square of St Annes. The lovely beach is just directly across from the hotel.

Visit www.dalmenyhotel.co.uk for more information and great deals and special breaks. Telephone 01253 716 012 for reservations.

To find out more about things to do and see in St Annes got to www.visitlancashire.com