The Adelphi Blackpool Transformed Into Trend Shawarma

The original Adelphi Hotel on Church Street, Blackpool, was built in 1835 by Esau Carter, who is believed to have been the town’s first postman. Standing at a time when Blackpool was still emerging as a coastal settlement of modest size, the hotel offered accommodation to early visitors arriving in the resort during the formative years of its tourism industry. Carter’s venture was both entrepreneurial and emblematic of Blackpool’s gradual transformation into a destination for leisure and travel.

In 1923 the building was rebuilt by the local brewing firm Catterall & Swarbrick, who gave it a distinctive white-tiled façade typical of the interwar period. Parts of this original tiling remain visible today in Adelphi Street, providing a visual link to the structure’s early twentieth-century incarnation. A blue plaque now mounted on Church Street commemorates the building’s long history and honours Esau Carter’s contribution to the town’s development, as noted by the heritage record on the Open Plaques register.

By 2025, the premises entered a new chapter with the opening of the Trend Shawarma Restaurant. The venue introduced an authentic Turkish dining experience to the heart of Blackpool, serving shawarmas, grilled meats, mezes and traditional desserts within the restored historic setting. This latest transformation not only preserved the legacy of one of the town’s oldest commercial sites but also reflected the increasingly cosmopolitan character of modern Blackpool. The opening of Trend Shawarma brought renewed life to a location that had served generations of visitors—continuing the Adelphi’s long-standing role as a place of welcome, hospitality and cultural exchange at the centre of the resort.

If you look at the comparison images below, you can see how much of the original building’s grandeur still remains.