English Chess Forum

It appears Blackpool is a possible venue.

From
https://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-cont ... n-V1-2.pdf

Following discussions with Guaranteed Events AE has visited Norbreck Castle Hotel in Blackpool as a potential venue for the 2020 British Championships

(I assume they mean 2021 and aren't pulling the plug on Torquay)

The hotel name rang a vague bell. I believe it was the one used when the Congress was last in Blackpool back in 1988.

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 15, 2020 9:06 pm

...the one used when the Congress was last in Blackpool back in 1988

And it's still a sh!thole

Go easy, for old times sake, Prof.

Did you never go as a child?

I did, and it didn't look so bad.

Even a current S@#$hole had it's heyday -

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... esort.html

It was also the venue for the spring Blackpool congress in the 1970s and 80s.

Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 16, 2020 12:07 am

It was also the venue for the spring Blackpool congress in the 1970s and 80s.

That's when I remember it. Don't think they've changed the table linen since.

Some things never change (much).

There's (almost) always the Golden Mile -

http://blackpool.com/sights/gmile.html

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 15, 2020 9:06 pm

It appears Blackpool is a possible venue.

From
https://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-cont ... n-V1-2.pdf

Following discussions with Guaranteed Events AE has visited Norbreck Castle Hotel in Blackpool as a potential venue for the 2020 British Championships

(I assume they mean 2021 and aren't pulling the plug on Torquay)

The hotel name rang a vague bell. I believe it was the one used when the Congress was last in Blackpool back in 1988.

David Robertson wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 15, 2020 11:02 pm

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 15, 2020 9:06 pm

...the one used when the Congress was last in Blackpool back in 1988

And it's still a sh!thole

Ii's possible to back up Dave's comments with some evidence using Tripadvisor which rates the Norbreck Castle Hotel as 70th best out of 75. Some recent reviews from this month:

"When I arrived I was horrified by the hotel it was so filthy so I booked another hotel just down the road for the same price called the grand hotel and it was a great place to stay so avoid the Norbreck hotel at all costs"

"Utter filth, plenty more places to stay in Blackpool do not stay at Brittania hotels they are dirty and scruffy"

"Absolutely disgusting.....do not go here I wouldn't even let a tramp stay here its absolutely filthy and disgusting I'm not even staying I'm going home.....it was meant to be a romantic valentine's night away from the kids"

There were some positive comments of course such as "If you are the type of person who pays £29 a night for a hotel, then expect anything other than average then this is not the place for you."

Oh, by the way, who likes to be beside the seaside in March?

Maybe not up to scratch for the British in July/Aug. but good enough for those who do -

44th Blackpool Chess Conference @ The Imperial Hotel Blackpool North Promenade Blackpool FY1 3HB

Mar 13 @ 6:45 pm – Mar 15 @ 6:15 pm

Contact: Bill O’Rourke Email: [email protected]
£6700 in prizes. Five sections – Lancashire Open, The Imperial Major (U181), The Intermediate (U155), The Minor (U135) & The Standard (U115) | Live games at http://www.blackpoolchess.org.uk

https://www.imperialhotelblackpool.co.uk

Plenty of cheap, rundown accommodation. No doubt there will be better places. With 2 years in Torquay change to north is good. HS2 is ages AWAY.

Anyway John on 14 March you are needed for a County match and a chance to play Lancashire in the national stages.

Ta, Nick.

You are way ahead of me.

I know of at least one southerner who is going.

The prizes are good and I know of another one who bagged 500 quid.

John on 7 March you are needed for a County match and a chance to play Lancashire in the national stages.

I hope flooding clears so you bag Lancashire prizes and as southerners we thank Bill.

44th Blackpool Chess Conference @ The Imperial Hotel Blackpool North Promenade Blackpool FY1 3HB

Mar 13 @ 6:45 pm – Mar 15 @ 6:15 pm

Lancashire loves Greater Manchester lol

This has been announced as being back at Torquay. That's presumably provided it again becomes legal to hold chess events where players physically meet.

https://www.britishchesschampionships.c ... hips-2021/

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 26, 2020 11:46 pm

This has been announced as being back at Torquay. That's presumably provided it again becomes legal to hold chess events where players physically meet.

https://www.britishchesschampionships.c ... hips-2021/

Looking at the current situation, I would not be surprised if the British Championship Congress 2021 is cancelled again.
(....but I hope I am wrong).

Paul Robert Jackson wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 10, 2020 10:18 am

Looking at the current situation, I would not be surprised if the British Championship Congress 2021 is cancelled again.

We must be getting to the time of year when organisers of events that would usually take place in the first half of 2021 would be gearing up to issue entry forms and update websites etc. Hastings we know is already cancelled in its usual form. I'm not aware of any other formal cancellations, but neither has there been any activity to promote events that might be taking place.