Holiday Inn Blackpool Expands with Platform 9 Bar & Kitchen, A Bold New Chapter in Lancashire’s Hospitality and Culinary Excellence

Holiday Inn Blackpool has taken a significant step towards expanding its hospitality offerings with the growth of Platform 9 Bar & Kitchen, a vibrant new addition that promises to elevate the culinary experience in the heart of Blackpool, Lancashire. The new expansion, coupled with an enhanced all-day menu, underscores the hotel’s growing reputation as a premier dining destination, not just for hotel guests but for the wider community as well.

Platform 9 Bar & Kitchen: A Fresh Take on Blackpool Dining

Since its opening in May 2024, Holiday Inn Blackpool has quickly established itself as a key player in the local hospitality scene, welcoming over 110,000 guests. This milestone achievement was recently celebrated with the hotel being named the best Holiday Inn in the UK and Ireland for guest experience by its parent company, IHG. The latest expansion of Platform 9 Bar & Kitchen is set to enhance this success, making it an even more attractive option for both locals and visitors alike.

The new restaurant space offers a polished yet casual atmosphere, perfect for a variety of dining occasions. Whether guests are looking for a hearty breakfast, a laid-back lunch, or a refined evening dinner, Platform 9 Bar & Kitchen caters to every culinary need. The menu has been carefully curated to provide an expansive range of dishes, ensuring there’s something for everyone. From stone-baked pizzas and classic comfort foods like beer-battered fish and chips to lighter salads and speciality coffees, the offerings reflect both local flavours and international influences.

One of the standout features of the new dining space is its versatility. In addition to serving as a popular dining venue, Platform 9 also functions as a co-working hub for those looking to meet, work, or unwind in a relaxed environment. This dual purpose reinforces the hotel’s commitment to providing more than just accommodation but a space where people can socialise, work and connect.

A Bold, Bigger Menu to Satisfy Every Palate

The expanded menu at Platform 9 Bar & Kitchen introduces a bold and diverse selection of dishes designed to cater to a range of tastes. Brunch and lunch enthusiasts will find comfort in options such as Lancashire black pudding and pancake stacks, while the grill menu features 28-day aged ribeye and sirloin steaks, prepared to perfection. For those seeking a lighter option, the menu includes signature burgers, healthy salads and small plates. The carefully curated drinks menu, which includes specialty cocktails and freshly brewed coffees, further complements the dining experience, ensuring that guests have everything they need to enjoy their meal from morning to evening.

By offering such a wide range of dishes, the restaurant aims to appeal to both hotel guests and the local community, making it a prime choice for a casual meal or an informal business meeting. The addition of these options positions Platform 9 Bar & Kitchen as a dining destination that stands out not only for its food but for the overall experience it provides.

Platform 9: A Nod to Blackpool’s Rich History

The restaurant’s name, Platform 9, pays homage to the nearby Blackpool North Station, a key transport hub that has been welcoming visitors since 1846. The station, originally built with eight platforms and later expanded to accommodate the growth of Blackpool as a seaside destination, remains a vital gateway for travellers. Just a short distance from the station, Platform 9 Bar & Kitchen continues the tradition of hospitality, creating a welcoming environment for all who visit.

The name is particularly fitting as Blackpool North Station remains an integral part of the town’s transport infrastructure and the restaurant seeks to embody the spirit of this important landmark. Positioned as the ‘ninth platform,’ Platform 9 Bar & Kitchen continues to contribute to the growth and vibrancy of Blackpool, welcoming both locals and visitors in a relaxed, sophisticated setting.

A Community-Focused Dining Experience

In addition to the expansion of its menu and dining space, Holiday Inn Blackpool’s Platform 9 Bar & Kitchen has committed to engaging with the wider community. The restaurant is set to take part in Blackpool Restaurant Week 2026, an event running from March 12-19, which highlights the best of the town’s culinary scene. During this week, Platform 9 will showcase its newly refreshed menu, offering a taste of its vibrant and diverse offerings to both the local community and visitors from beyond Blackpool.

General Manager of Holiday Inn Blackpool, Mark Winter, shared that the response from guests and the local community has been overwhelmingly positive since the restaurant’s initial expansion. The new dining space and menu refresh have not only enhanced the hotel’s appeal but have allowed Platform 9 Bar & Kitchen to become a hub for people to meet, eat and socialise. Winter expressed excitement over the continued growth of the venue, noting that the restaurant has quickly become a staple of Blackpool’s town centre dining scene.

Holiday Inn Blackpool’s continued commitment to hospitality excellence, as exemplified by the expansion of Platform 9 Bar & Kitchen, marks a bold step in establishing the hotel as a cornerstone of the Lancashire hospitality and dining landscape. With an innovative new menu, a stylish setting and a focus on community engagement, Platform 9 is set to play a key role in the future of Blackpool’s vibrant hospitality scene.

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