THE SKYLINE at South Shore will soon be changing as Blackpool Pleasure Beach's new 118 room hotel is constructed.

Named The Big Blue Hotel it will stand at the south end of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, adjacent to Ocean Boulevard, with the Pepsi Max Big One for an impressive backdrop.

Work is expected to begin soon on the hotel which is due to be completed by early next summer.

It will be the first new hotel to be built on the prom for almost 25 years, with each room offering a luxury bathroom, internet connection, telephone and television.

Of the 118 bedrooms, 72 will be family suites including DVD, games consoles and a separate children's sleeping area offering privacy for both parents and children. The hotel will also have a dedicated children's check-in desk.

Business visitors will also be catered for with 24 executive rooms with lounge areas, two luxury suites and conference facilities. The hotel will also house a dedicated business centre offering a range of services such as internet, video conferencing, e-mail, typing, photocopying and faxing.

There will also be 20 standard rooms for the budget market, a fully equipped gym, and although accommodation will be on a room-only basis, there will be a 140 seat fully licensed brasserie style restaurant.

And a Blackpool Pleasure Beach spokesman said it had been designed principally for the Blackpool holiday market and to "augment Blackpool Pleasure Beach's conference and banqueting arm and its highly successful short break holiday firm Pleasure Breaks".

She added: "Through development of the family room concept, which is relatively new to the UK, The Big Blue Hotel will appeal to both short stay holidaymakers and to the business market."

The final plans were unveiled yesterday at the opening of a visitor information centre about the hotel and its style of accommodation.