Trades Hotel and Bar

What it is

Trades is one of the last of a once-common breed: the men-only gay hotel with its own bar, where guests become members for the length of their stay. The hotel spans several joined townhouses on Lord Street. Its bar is a relaxed, unshowy place for gay and bisexual men to meet, chat, have a drink and get to know each other.

There is no cabaret stage or drag host here. The appeal is the company, the very late hours and the freedom of a space designed purely for men who like men.

How it works

The hotel describes itself as a private members' hotel for gay and bisexual men over 18. If you book a room, you automatically get membership of the men-only space for your stay, and the bar serves beers, wines and spirits. Guests sign a booking form accepting that the hotel is a private retreat. If you are not staying and want a drink, ask at the door how entry works on the night, because arrangements for visitors can vary.

History in brief

The Trades Hotel grew out of the wave of gay guesthouses that spread along Lord Street, High Street and Dickson Road from the 1980s onwards, in the wake of the Flamingo club. Over the years the Trades name has also been linked to a bar on Queen Street, in the building that later became Kaos. The current premises licence for the Lord Street hotel was granted in 2024 and varied in 2025, and a refurbishment of the hotel was reported in 2026.

Hours and what's on

The bar is generally listed as open daily from about 11am until 3am. Its licence allows drinks to be served from 10am until 4am, so on busy weekends it can run later than most of the quarter. Extra event licences are taken out for Pride weekend, bank holidays and New Year, when the bar is at its busiest.

The bistro side

The quieter, Banks Street side of the building is run separately as Antinous Lounge & Bistro, a lounge for food, coffee and drinks that also hosts community events. See its own page.

Who it suits

Trades suits gay and bi men, particularly those staying in the hotel, who want a late, low-key bar with a men-only atmosphere. It is not the place for a mixed group of friends.

Entry rules

The bar is strictly 18+ and runs Challenge 25, so bring photo ID. Door staff work on busy nights, and staff refuse anyone who is drunk.

Accessibility

No accessibility information is published. The hotel occupies older townhouses, so expect steps and stairs.

Location and nearby

Trades is on Lord Street, a few minutes' walk from Blackpool North station. Mardi Gras and Rendezvous are a few doors towards the station, and the Flying Handbag and Kaos are around the corner on Queen Street. Neon, Evanescent and McGraths are further along Lord Street and its side streets.

Staying or visiting: Trades Hotel

What it is and who it welcomes

Trades covers several joined townhouses at 51 to 55 Lord Street, in the middle of the Rainbow Quarter. With around 60 rooms, it is by far the biggest of the scene's own hotels. It is run as a private members' hotel for gay and bisexual men aged over 18. When you book a room, you become a member for the length of your stay. The hotel says it uses these rules so that it can cater solely for gay men.

Trades is one of the last survivors of a type of hotel that was once common in British seaside resorts: cheap, cheerful, men-only and relaxed about what goes on between consenting adults. When you book, you sign a form accepting that it is a private members' hotel. Management encourages decency, but you may come across adult behaviour in the building. If you want a quiet, conventional B&B, this is not it. If you want a sociable men's base with a bar that keeps going late, it is a Blackpool institution.

Women, mixed groups and trans or non-binary guests who are not gay or bi men should look at the other guesthouses in our directory instead.

Rooms

Rooms are mostly simple and budget-priced, spread over several floors of the linked houses. The hotel was reported to be refurbishing in 2026, so room standards vary. Ask for one of the updated rooms if that matters to you. Because the building is so large, Trades often has space when the smaller guesthouses are full on big weekends.

Bar and breakfast

• The bar serves beer, wine and spirits. It is the social heart of the hotel and is known for its very long hours. It has been listed as open daily from late morning until 3am. As a members' bar it is for men only, and your hotel membership gets you in.
• Breakfast is served for residents.

Next door at number 49, Antinous Lounge and Bistro is useful for food and coffee. Charity coffee mornings have been held there with Trades.

Location

Trades is in the middle of Lord Street, the quarter's main guest-house and bar street. Mardi Gras is a few doors away, Hotel Neon and the Prince Albert are round the corner on Yates Street, and Rendezvous is near the station end. Funny Girls and the Queen Street bars are about five minutes' walk away, and Blackpool North station is about three.

Accessibility

No access statement is published. The building is a row of older terraced houses with stairs between floors. Ask about a lower-floor room when you book.

Booking tips

• You must be a gay or bisexual man aged 18 or over, and you may be asked for photo ID.
• Book by phone. The hotel's own website does not allow automated reading, so we have not relied on it for prices, which change through the season.
• On event weekends such as Pride, the Illuminations switch-on and the bigger bear and fetish weekends, book well ahead. A minimum stay may apply.
• Read the booking form carefully before you sign it.