A SHANKLIN hotel has made a firm statement about the niche market it is appealing to — by painting the entire frontage in homage to its alternative Gothic theme.

The Nightingale Hotel, on the clifftop along Queens Road, has been adorned with large-scale artwork created by Tony Trowbridge.

The hotel stated on Facebook: "This is going to be cover photo for all our online channels, website and social media.

"Is the message loud and clear now? The hotel is what it is, if you like it, book and come again. If not, we don’t care.

"Lucky no one's called to complain. We were ready to paint a huge penis on the other side if they did."

The hotel has found a niche market for Gothic and Halloween events.

Forthcoming events include A Bloody Epic Halloween Weekend, Seven Deadly Sins Burlesque Party, and Fetish February.

Dino Joachim, who runs the hotel with wife Arina, told the County Press the hotel had gone from strength to strength since introducing the Gothic theme.

He said: "We bought the hotel three years ago and inherited the elderly guests from when it was Keats Green Hotel, but they didn't like my tattoo or the decor we introduced, so the second year they didn't come back.


"We decided to build up the hotel from scratch, went more Gothic and really expressed ourselves. However some guests still booked and they didn't like the dripping candles and the painting of a woman wearing a gimp mask. 


"I asked them why they booked to stay in a Gothic hotel as it is obvious from our website what we are about. It made me think we had to express ourselves even more so people know, hence painting the hotel. 


"We are doing really well this year and most of the money is being put back into the hotel, redecorating it constantly. Some hotels in Shanklin look like they are decaying and the squatters have moved in, whereas ours is a destination in itself."