From dilapidated entrance signs to faded facades, filthy carpets, dated curtains and a general air of neglect, some of Britain’s most elaborate buildings have long lost their allure as ‘grande dames’ of the hotel world.While many towns and cities across the country previously played host to a variety of upmarket establishments, some have failed to maintain their often expensive exteriors and interiors.A stay at some of these hotels is more likely to feel like a bargain break than a luxury escape – where you’ll find yourself inspecting each and every glass for fingerprints instead of truly relaxing.Formerly iconic hotels and seaside resorts, from Blackpool to Bognor Regis, are among the worst in the country, exhibiting a real fall from grace.Here are some of the worst offenders…The Imperial Hotel, Blackpool The Imperial Hotel in Blackpool has lost its previously timeless allureWhile the exterior of Blackpool’s Imperial Hotel may once have hinted at its upper-crust status, unfortunately nowadays it’s more ‘tacky’ than ‘timeless’.’The decline of the rooms and the standard of service was shocking. We booked a premier room. It was far from premier,’ one disgruntled visitor wrote of the hotel this summer.’Shoddy room with decor and furnishings badly requiring an upgrade. Watered down toiletries. Bathrobes missing, eventually supplied without a belt. Carpet was filthy. We could go on…’It fits within the town’s overall decline, too. The Blackpool Tower, pier and coastline have provided the backdrop for many a British family holiday over the last few decades – but in recent years, the town has gone from dynamic destination to hopelessly gauche.Indeed, when a town markets itself as ‘affordable’, all too often that goes along with another description – ‘tacky’.The Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool The Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool was once a celebrity enclave before its declineThe Britannia Adelphi Hotel is one of Liverpool’s most famous establishments, with visitors over the years including Sir Winston Churchill and the hotel featuring in the 1997 fly-on-the-wall BBC documentary series Hotel, narrated by Andrew Sachs. The first Adelphi Hotel on the present site was opened in 1826 by owner James Radley. But it’s faced a string of disastrous events in recent years. Its owner, Britannia Hotels, appeared in court to face 20 charges of breaching health and safety regulations after the death of Chloe Haynes in September 2022. The court heard the hotel was an ‘unsafe place’, after the 21-year-old died from a falling wardrobe and a three-year-old girl suffered head injuries from a cabinet.The Grand Hotel, Scarborough Today the Grand Hotel is not quite as grand, with a grubby exterior signThe Grand Hotel opened in Scarborough in 1867, and at that time was the largest hotel in Europe.It was a favourite among the aristocracy, with its glamorous entrance hall, gorgeous main staircase and well-adorned interiors.However, a combination of factors such as its acquisition by Britannia Hotels in 2004, underinvestment, maintenance issues and customer complaints have culminated in it being dubbed the ‘shame of Scarborough’.’The lobby is given over to dark, faux leather armchairs, plastic ferns, slot machines and Find A Key games (‘winner every time!’). The air is perfumed by fry-ups,’ Mark Palmer wrote in the Daily Mail.’Social media is awash with posts about how The Grand, part of the Britannia chain – and a Butlins at one time – is the worst hotel in the country.’Riviera Hotel, Weymouth The abandoned Riviera Hotel in Bowleaze Cove is not what it once wasWhen you think of Art Deco hotels, you might picture high ceilings, impressive windows and glamorous designs.Riviera Hotel in Weymouth might once have been this type of establishment – but less so right now.One Facebook user wrote: ‘The “owner” does not care for it, everything that was done as part of the “refurbishment” back then was done on the cheap, as well as being ripped off by several building companies, hence its state now. ‘Such a shame, it would need millions now to put it right and with listed building status.’Fortunately, the hotel is set to undergo a refurb, so only time will tell whether it will redeem itself. It is closed for the time being.The Metropole Hotel, Blackpool The Metropole Hotel in Blackpool is now owned by Britannia HotelsBuilt in 1776, The Metropole Hotel in Blackpool is the only hotel on the shoreline side of the promenade.’Wipe your feet on the way out!’ one visitor wrote. ‘I stayed there before it was acquired by the Home Office for use. The place was an absolute dump of a place. Avoid at all costs.’Blackpool was at its best from the 1870s to the 1950s, when new railway links made it easily accessible, a win for those living in landlocked towns across the UK.In the 1980s, it had a reputation for a vibrant nightlife – but unfortunately competition from increasingly easy-to-book Mediterranean holidays became far more appealing than, well, a weekend by the Irish Sea.The Metropole Hotel is very much part of that decline.Royal Norfolk Hotel, Bognor Regis The Royal Norfolk Hotel near the seafront of Bognor Regis has been described as ‘grotty”Possibly the worst hotel I’ve stayed in’, is how one guest described the Royal Norfolk Hotel in Bognor Regis.In the 1830s, the Georgian property, situated on the seafront, might have elicited gasps of awe – but nowadays, not so much. It has a ‘soulless reception, bland decor and claustrophobic feel’ according to one Daily Mail hotel inspector – and the many coach parties at the resort contribute to its poor state. One disappointed visitor commented: ‘Grotty dated hotel with tiny awful rooms and rubbish internet and rude staff.’The hotel’s location of Bognor Regis itself was named by consumer group Which? as the joint-worst seaside resort in Britain last year, and receives many critical reviews. While some visitors appreciate its traditional seaside atmosphere, others seeking a quieter coastal escape may be disappointed.Coylumbridge Resort Hotel, Aviemore Coylumbridge Resort Hotel in Aviemore is next up on the listIf you look up Coylumbridge Resort Hotel in Aviemore, you’ll be met with images of the establishment during its heyday. On paper, it has a 65-acre woodland estate, dining options, a relaxing spa, an indoor pool, an adventure park and a soft play area. However, in reality, it’s far less glamorous than that, with dated carpets and poor service – and none of the facilities are quite as nice as they sound.One undercover Daily Mail hotel inspector said: ‘The service at reception was the worst I could remember from any hotel.’ Royal Grosvenor Hotel, Weston-super-Mare The imposing Royal Grosvenor Hotel stands (somewhat) proudly in Weston-super-MareWeston-super-Mare is among the UK’s formerly perfect seaside towns that fell into disrepair when Brits started heading abroad instead.And few parts of the town demonstrate this quite like the Royal Grosvenor Hotel.Described as ‘shockingly poor’ and with ‘terrible service’, many guests have discouraged others from booking a stay here.Now, though, the hotel has been listed for a guide price of £1.5million – meaning it could be bought and refurbished in the future.The Royal Hotel, Weymouth The Royal Hotel is the second Weymouth establishment in disrepairThe Royal Hotel in Weymouth should be all about its ‘Free Renaissance’ style, beach views and impressive architecture.Unfortunately, that’s not quite the case. One visitor wrote: ‘Would not stay here again. Room very tired and windows really dirty. Bathroom shabby and there was a musty smell in the room.’Another chimed in: ‘The room wasn’t clean, old sweets left all over the floor. Carpet not hoovered. Massive damp patch near the radiator and damp over the ceiling.’A third added: ‘I stay a lot around the country with work and this is the worst place I have stayed ever. Starting as soon as I got in the door the receptionist was rude and very unhelpful.’