Kick Back At The Art Break Hotel

Within moments of arriving at Art Break Hotel, I was sitting in a sunlit dining room with a cool drink in hand, chatting away to the manager Andy Ostin and the owner Nataliya Yunda as if we were old friends. I wasn’t sitting still for long however as in every corner of the ground floor dining and bar area my eyes were drawn to pieces of art. Painting, crafts and furniture fashioned by local creatives just had to be investigated. The Art Break Hotel is a treat for the eyes and the artistic soul.

A minutes’ walk from the Blackpool sea front you will find Art Break sitting in the centre of a row of hotels and B&B’s on Woodfield Road, not far from Central Pier. Even from the outside you can’t help but notice there is something different about this place compared to the businesses around it. The warmth and welcome you will find on the inside is seeping out onto the pavement. This hotel is a little bit magical.

Nataliya, an extremely talented painter herself, has only owned Art Break for about twelve months. After deciding to ignore the doubters and follow her dreams of creating a haven for artists and creatives, she packed up her life and moved to the seaside.

After a chance meeting in an art shop with a local creative and involving herself in the art scene, Nataliya has won the support of likeminded individualsand together they are helping her dream to take flight.

Nataliya and her newly appointed manager (painter Andy Ostin) have started to transform this space into an artists retreat. Giving creative license for the room design over to artists she has discovered, this hotel is really starting to take shape. Each room is uniquely decorated, guests will be able to enjoy a selection of artworks from artist both local and national. Nataliya’s eye for detail and passion for creating a pleasurable visit for guests means that not only are the completed rooms beautiful but comfortable too!

There is still work to be done but already creative individuals are flocking here. With an open-door policy for artists to drop by this place is already a hive of activity and a fantastic opportunity for commercial practitioners of all disciplines to display their work as well as pick up some new skills.

Nataliya and Andy have big plans from the hotel including, workshops and classes, drop in studio spaces and monthly get togethers for local artists. In addition, they will be offering artists holidays for guests and an exhibition space to boot.

Moving forward they are hoping to work with mental health charities by offering workshops to build self-esteem and self-worth through art practice to those dealing with mental health issues.

The hard work and drive being put in to this venture by all those involved deserves to be successful. The Art Break Hotel should not only be artist retreat but a home for the art community of Blackpool, if not beyond.

For more information or to make a booking at the Art Break Hotel visit their Facebook page, follow on Twitter @artbreakbp, visit their website artbreak-hotel.co.uk or call 01253 365400.

Images courtesy of Jill Reidy.