My fiance and I returned from a 3 night stay at The Viking yesterday and we wish we had booked for longer!

On arrival the reception staff were friendly but some directions to our room would have been helpful as the hotel is a it of a maze (ok once you get used to it though).

Our room was spotlessly clean, well equipped, very comfortable and nicely decorated. Unfortunately we didn't have a view at all (just a brick wall) but we hadn't requested a view so I would recommend doing so. Also I would ask not to have room 225 or those surrounding as there is a noisy air conditioning unit outside which you can hear if you have the window open (we had to because it was very hot). It is supposed to be turned off at night but unfortunately for me was forgotten one night and kept me awake.

The bathroom was compact but didn't cause us any problems apart from the hot water running out whilst Alan was in the shower one day. Again it was very clean.

The restaurant has a lovely sea view and you are allocated a table for the whole of your stay which makes life easier. This means that you have the same waiter and people seated near you so you can get chatting which we thought was nice. Our waiter was very friendly and informative. If you are not interested in talking to your fellow guests the meals are served over a one and a half hour period so you don't all have to eat at the same time.

We enjoyed the food and liked the fact that there was a different menu each day which plenty of choice. The sauces were lovely! I think getting breakast and a three course dinner every day for the price we paid was great value for money.

We made use of the three bars and found the drinks reasonably priced for a hotel. The bar staff are friendly and the bar downstairs has some tables outside so you can sit in the sun (sometimes!) on the seafront and relax with a drink.

We tried out the evening entertainment but didn't reserve a table early enough so sat at the back. If you are planning on going to see the show every evening I would recommend reserving a seat which you retain for the whole of your stay. The entertainment was good fun and the compare Buddy Lee got everyone involved. There were different acts each night (singers and comedians) and the club was always packed out even though nowhere else in Blackpool was very busy. The Sensation dancers have great costumes which the men seem to like!

The location of the hotel is good as it is on the seafront near the South Pier and a two minute walk to the beach. Unfotunately the promenade is currently being redone which looks great in the finished areas but like a building site elsewhere. There are tram and bus stops very close to the hotel so it is great for getting out and about for day trips and evenings out.

Overall I would definately recommend this hotel as we really enjoyed our stay and are thinking of going back. The fact that it is a child free zone was a plus as we don't have any yet and don't really want to be surrounded by children whilst we are on holiday. The hotel staff and other guests were extremely friendly which made the experience that much better for us. We are both under 40 and there weren't many other guests that were, which surprised us a bit at first but in the end didn't make any differnce to us at all.

haveing just spent a weekend at the viking hotel i returned back this year as id been before,there is a few points i need to mentioned the food was not upto standard and the entertainment wasnt as good as last year,the comper buddly lee is made for the hotel,the bar area in the lounge should stay open later instead of closing at 5 oclock and the hotel could do with a few table and chairs outside for people to sit and enjoy a drink and snax outside,also your broucher states no all same sex allowed but there was at least for seperate groups there while we were,the bar area could do with a complete refurb and decoration,i will not be returning to this hotel again in the near future,we addroom no 212 which was cleaned everyday

We stayed for 1 night only & had it been a longer stay then I wouldn't have been happy.I booked this at half price via booking.com yet they tried to charge the full amount until I showed the computer printout.I would not have paid the full price of £98 for one nights dbb for 2 at this hotel.
The room was tiny with only a 3 quarter size bed. The bath was not a full size either.I'm only 5ft 5 yet I couldn't stretch out. The grout on the bathroom floor was black with dirt & there were cobwebs on the ceiling in the bedroom.
Dinner was edible but not as described.Turkey turned out to be pork,a chipolata sausage was half of a jumbo sausage & the beef in red wine looked more like tinned stewed steak. There were wine glasses on the table which were taken off when dinner was brought???? and a glass of iced water replaced them????
Your table at the club is reserved for you when you check in but when we got to our table our view of the stage was ovscured by a large pillar.The entertainment consisted of "Coast Idol" A talent contest.....a whole 4 acts entered & that was it.I'd read about Buddy Lee & expected him to be brilliant but instead found him dull & boring & like he was trying to fill time.The website says after the show you can dance along to the DJ.It's more like a recording of music playing in the background.Entrance to the nightclub is advertised as "free for guests" on the website....... it's free entrance to anyone anyway except on a Saturday.That must be when there's something worthwhile going on in the place.
All in all,if its just a place to rest yor head after a night out then you'll be fine but if that all you need then a nice B&B would be cheaper.

Just returned from 3 nightsat the Viking, (Choice hotels) you must be joking. We arrived on Friday afternoon to a rather dingy and dirty reception, we made our way to our room, first thing we noticed was there was no shower, the floor in the bathroom needs the grout cleaning.We asked for a different room with a shower they said they didn't have one. We went to Blackpool for the North West Area Brass Band Contest, and I had made arrangements for my husband to practice on the Saturday lunch time for about 20 mins 1/2 an hour they said he could use the cabaret club downstairs, when we asked at reception on the Saturday they denied all knowlege of the phone conversation saying they knew nothing about the arrangements, the Manageress we spoke to was very arrogant and was basically saying that she didn't believe that I had made the arrangements. Several reviews I read said the food was very good, we didn't enjoy breakfast (small portions) the evening meals were o.k. but nothing to write home about. The dining room was more like a works canteen, not a bit intimate everything was rushed it was as quick as they could get you out. Not impressed at all for the price we paid.