The Molly House

What it is and who it welcomes

The Molly House, at 47 to 49 Dickson Road, is a gay-owned, gay-friendly guesthouse that used to trade as Windsor House. The same team has run it for around 18 years. The new name echoes the "molly houses" of Georgian London, where men who loved men once met in secret.

It mainly caters for couples and single travellers. It welcomes gay and straight guests of all ages, and it has a zero-tolerance policy on homophobia: anyone who isn't comfortable around gay people is asked to stay elsewhere. Unlike many guesthouses in the quarter, it is not formally adults-only. It has twin and family/triple rooms, so it is one of the few gay-owned options that can take a mixed group or a family that includes LGBTQ+ members.

Guests should know that the manager keeps a small Jack Russell on the premises. Mention it when you book if you have an allergy or are nervous of dogs.

Rooms

There are 14 bedrooms, all en-suite with a WC, shower and basin. All are centrally heated and double-glazed, with free WiFi, a TV, tea, coffee and biscuits, and daily servicing. An iron, hairdryer and straighteners are available from reception. Room types are:

• single rooms
• small or budget doubles
• doubles
• twins
• triple or family rooms
• premier doubles (the Sandringham and Kensington)
• the Windsor premier-plus double, with a sofa, a fridge with complimentary water, a safe, a DVD player, a hi-fi and chocolates

Prices

Recent rates per room per night, breakfast included, were roughly:

• Single: £40
• Single occupancy of a double, or a budget double: £60 to £65
• Double: £70 to £75
• Twin: £80
• Family or triple: £100 to £120
• Premier doubles: £85
• Windsor premier plus: £90

Weekend rates are slightly higher in some room types during the peak season from April to December and over bank holidays.

Breakfast and bar

• Breakfast is a late full English, included in every rate. It comes with juice, cereal and toast, and you can have eggs any way you like, beans on toast or a vegetarian option. On weekdays a grab-and-go business breakfast is available.
• The lounge bar is a cosy, well-stocked guest bar with reasonable prices, for a quiet drink before or after a night out.
• No evening meals are served.
• The whole building is non-smoking.

Location

From Blackpool North, walk along Banks Street to Dickson Road and turn left. The Molly House is almost straight away, next to the old church. Funny Girls and the Flying Handbag are less than a minute away, the station is about two minutes away, and Man Bar, Kaos and the Queen Street bars are just round the corner. The Winter Gardens, the town centre and North Pier are all within an easy walk. There is a baggage store if you arrive early or leave late.

House rules and booking tips

• Minimum stay: two nights at weekends from Easter to early November, and on bank holidays and New Year's Eve.
• Check-in is from 2pm. Let them know if you will arrive after 6pm. Check-in and check-out times are flexible where possible.
• Deposits are non-refundable. You can cancel by phone seven or more days ahead for a small fee. Cancellations with less than seven days' notice are charged in full unless the room is re-let.
• Book by phone to get the house tariff. Booking agents may charge more and apply different terms.
• Groups: the organiser is responsible for the whole group's booking.

Parking and accessibility

No parking details are published. The Dickson Road, Bank Street and Talbot Road car parks are a few minutes away. A disabled-access page is listed on the hotel's site but gives no detail, so ring to ask about stairs and room locations.