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The '''Grand Hotel''' is a [[Listed building|Grade II* listed]] [[Victorian era|Victorian]] hotel in the city centre of [[Birmingham]] in the [[United Kingdom]]. The hotel occupies the greater part of a block bounded by [[Colmore Row]], Church Street, Barwick Street and Livery Street and overlooks [[St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham|St Philip's Cathedral]] and churchyard. Designed by architect Thomson Plevins{{sfn|Thornton|2006|p=26}} construction began in 1875 with the hotel opening in 1879.<ref name=eh/> Extensions and extensive interior renovations were undertaken by prominent Birmingham architecture firm [[Martin & Chamberlain]] from 1890 to 1895, interior renovations included the building of the Grosvenor Room which boasts rich and impressive [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]] style decoration.
The '''Grand Hotel''' is a [[Listed building|Grade II* listed]] [[Victorian era|Victorian]] hotel in the city centre of [[Birmingham]] in the [[United Kingdom]]. The hotel occupies the greater part of a block bounded by [[Colmore Row]], Church Street, Barwick Street and Livery Street and overlooks [[St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham|St Philip's Cathedral]] and churchyard. Designed by architect Thomson Plevins{{sfn|Thornton|2006|p=26}} construction began in 1875 with the hotel opening in 1879.<ref name=eh/> Extensions and extensive interior renovations were undertaken by prominent Birmingham architecture firm [[Martin & Chamberlain]] from 1890 to 1895. Interior renovations included the building of the Grosvenor Room which boasts rich and impressive [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]] style decoration.


The hotel closed in 2002 and due to the risk of crumbling stonework it has been under scaffolding and protective covers since. In 2012 planning permission was granted for plans to restore the building into a luxury 152 bedroom hotel. Works began in October 2012 with the target of reopening in Spring 2014.<ref name=bp>{{cite news|title=Birmingham Grand Hotel restoration backed by city councillors|url=http://www.birminghampost.net/news/newsaggregator//tm_headline=birmingham-grand-hotel-restoration-plans-backed-by-city-councillors%26method=full%26objectid=30647830%26siteid=65233-name_page.html|date=30 March 2012|work=[[Birmingham Post]]|accessdate=6 June 2012|location=Birmingham|first=Neil|last=Elkes}}</ref>
The hotel closed in 2002 and due to the risk of crumbling stonework it has been under scaffolding and protective covers since. In 2012 planning permission was granted for plans to restore the building into a luxury 152-bedroom hotel. Works began in October 2012 with the target of reopening in Spring 2014.<ref name=bp>{{cite news|title=Birmingham Grand Hotel restoration backed by city councillors|url=http://www.birminghampost.net/news/newsaggregator//tm_headline=birmingham-grand-hotel-restoration-plans-backed-by-city-councillors%26method=full%26objectid=30647830%26siteid=65233-name_page.html|date=30 March 2012|work=[[Birmingham Post]]|accessdate=6 June 2012|location=Birmingham|first=Neil|last=Elkes}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
Line 98: Line 98:
Plevins issued three separate contracts for the Colmore Row range of the hotel and construction work started in 1875 on the corner of Church Street.<ref name=eh/> The hotel opened on 1 February 1879, with 100 rooms and a further 60 unfinished at the time of opening.<ref name=eh/> Other facilities included a restaurant with an entrance fronting Church Street, two coffee rooms and stock rooms.<ref name=eh/> The stock rooms were an exhibition space where businessmen could demonstrate their new products and were built as the hotel aimed to attract most of its clients from commercial visitors from out of town.<ref name=bho/> The hotel was let to Arthur Field, a hotel operator from Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1880 the hotel was extended, when the corner of Church Street and Barwick Street was built.
Plevins issued three separate contracts for the Colmore Row range of the hotel and construction work started in 1875 on the corner of Church Street.<ref name=eh/> The hotel opened on 1 February 1879, with 100 rooms and a further 60 unfinished at the time of opening.<ref name=eh/> Other facilities included a restaurant with an entrance fronting Church Street, two coffee rooms and stock rooms.<ref name=eh/> The stock rooms were an exhibition space where businessmen could demonstrate their new products and were built as the hotel aimed to attract most of its clients from commercial visitors from out of town.<ref name=bho/> The hotel was let to Arthur Field, a hotel operator from Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1880 the hotel was extended, when the corner of Church Street and Barwick Street was built.


[[File:Colmore Row 1870's.tiff|thumb|left|Colmore Row in 1870, before the hotel was built]]In 1890, the hotel operator fell into financial difficulties and the hotel was handed back to the owners Hortons' Estate Ltd.<ref name=eh/> It was at this time that the owners decided to revamp the hotel to appeal more to the luxury market. From 1890–91, the majority of the interior of the hotel was reconstructed, decorated and furnished at a cost of £40,000 by [[Martin & Chamberlain|Martin and Chamberlain]].<ref name=eh/> In 1893–95, extensive additions were made with the construction of a new block fronting Barwick Street.<ref name=bho>{{cite web | url = http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/freedom_of_information/103085_application.pdf | title = Spot-listing Application for Grand Hotel|work=|publisher=[[The Victorian Society]]| accessdate = 07&nbsp;June 2012}}</ref> Within this new block was the Grosvenor Room, the Grosvenor Drawing Room, and the Crush Room, all decorated in rich and impressive [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]] style decoration.<ref>{{cite news|title=Additions to the Grand Hotel|url=|date=5 October 1895|work=The Builder|accessdate=6 June 2012|location=|first=|last=}}</ref> The building contractors were Barnsley and Son of Ryland St. North,<ref name=bho/> and the building was furnished by Norton and Co. of [[Corporation Street, Birmingham|Corporation Sreet]].<ref name=eh/> 75 new bedrooms were built in the new block and two highly decorated billiards rooms were added to the basement.<ref name=eh/> The stock rooms remained as they were an essential part of the commercial accent of the hotel.
[[File:Colmore Row 1870's.tiff|thumb|left|Colmore Row in 1870, before the hotel was built]]In 1890, the hotel operator fell into financial difficulties, and the hotel was handed back to the owners Hortons' Estate Ltd.<ref name=eh/> The owners then decided to revamp the hotel to appeal more to the luxury market. From 1890–91, the majority of the interior of the hotel was reconstructed, decorated and furnished at a cost of £40,000 by [[Martin & Chamberlain|Martin and Chamberlain]].<ref name=eh/> In 1893–95, extensive additions were made with the construction of a new block fronting Barwick Street.<ref name=bho>{{cite web | url = http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/freedom_of_information/103085_application.pdf | title = Spot-listing Application for Grand Hotel|work=|publisher=[[The Victorian Society]]| accessdate = 07&nbsp;June 2012}}</ref> Within this new block was the Grosvenor Room, the Grosvenor Drawing Room, and the Crush Room, all decorated in rich and impressive [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]] style decoration.<ref>{{cite news|title=Additions to the Grand Hotel|url=|date=5 October 1895|work=The Builder|accessdate=6 June 2012|location=|first=|last=}}</ref> The building contractors were Barnsley and Son of Ryland St. North,<ref name=bho/> and the building was furnished by Norton and Co. of [[Corporation Street, Birmingham|Corporation Sreet]].<ref name=eh/> 75 new bedrooms were built in the new block, and two highly decorated billiards rooms were added to the basement.<ref name=eh/> The stock rooms remained as they were an essential part of the commercial accent of the hotel.


The hotels heyday was in the early 20th century, when its played host to royalty, politicians and film stars as well as staging many dinners, concerts and dances in the Grosvenor Suites. Attending functions or staying in the hotel at this time included names such as [[King George VI]], [[Winston Churchill]], [[Neville Chamberlain]], [[Charlie Chaplin]], [[James Cagney]] and [[Joe Louis]]. Despite its previous success as the century continued the hotel ran into financial difficulties and closed in 1969. Hickmet Hotels took lease of the hotel in 1972 and even after a £500,00 refurbishment trading conditions proved difficult and they fell into receivership in 1976.
The hotel's heyday was in the early 20th century, when it played host to royalty, politicians and film stars as well as staging many dinners, concerts and dances in the Grosvenor Suites. [[King George VI]], [[Winston Churchill]], [[Neville Chamberlain]], [[Charlie Chaplin]], [[James Cagney]] and [[Joe Louis]] attended functions or stayed in the hotel at this time. Despite its previous success, as the century continued, the hotel ran into financial difficulties and closed in 1969. Hickmet Hotels took lease of the hotel in 1972, and even after a £500,00 refurbishment, trading conditions proved difficult, and they fell into receivership in 1976.


Grand Metropolitan Hotels took over the lease in 1977 an undertook a £1.5 million refurbishment. In 1978, architects Harper Sperring undertook a modernisation of the interior and the exterior of the hotel.<ref name=bp1/> A major repair job was undertaken on the exterior stonework on Colmore Row and Church Street which comprised applying a resin sealant coat, followed by a thick cement layer and then over painting.<ref name=bp1/> In 1982 the lease was passed to Queens' Moat Hotels, with little investment and maintenance during the 1980's and 1990's the hotel again fell into decline. In August 2002, the hotel closed due to financial difficulties. The exterior of the building began to deteriorate because of poor quality stonework; scaffolding was erected for public safety. In 2003, plans were put forward by the owners to demolish the building as the maintenance costs were becoming too high.<ref name=eh/> [[The Victorian Society]] countered these plans by putting forward an application to spot-list the building to save it from demolition.<ref name=bho/> In May 2004, the building was designated with a [[Listed building|Grade II* listing]] protecting it from demolition.
Grand Metropolitan Hotels took over the lease in 1977 and undertook a £1.5 million refurbishment. In 1978, architects Harper Sperring undertook a modernisation of the interior and the exterior of the hotel.<ref name=bp1/> A major repair job was undertaken on the exterior stonework on Colmore Row and Church Street which comprised applying a resin sealant coat, followed by a thick cement layer and then over painting.<ref name=bp1/> In 1982 the lease was passed to Queens' Moat Hotels; with little investment and maintenance during the 1980s and 1990s, the hotel again fell into decline. In August 2002, the hotel closed due to financial difficulties. The exterior of the building began to deteriorate because of poor quality stonework; scaffolding was erected for public safety. In 2003, plans were put forward by the owners to demolish the building as the maintenance costs were becoming too high.<ref name=eh/> [[The Victorian Society]] countered these plans by putting forward an application to spot-list the building to save it from demolition.<ref name=bho/> In May 2004, the building was designated with a [[Listed building|Grade II* listing]] protecting it from demolition.


In 2012, a planning application was put forward and accepted to restore the hotel. Owners Hortons' Estates proposed a £30 million scheme to the restore the hotel's façade, the Grosvenor Suites, and the grand staircase, and to re-model the inside to create a 152 bedroom, 8 suite, luxury hotel and move the main entrance to Church Street.<ref name=bp/> Work began in October 2012 with a projected opening date of spring 2014.
In 2012, a planning application was put forward and accepted to restore the hotel. Owners Hortons' Estates proposed a £30 million scheme to the restore the hotel's façade, the Grosvenor Suites, and the grand staircase, and to re-model the inside to create a 152-bedroom, 8-suite, luxury hotel and move the main entrance to Church Street.<ref name=bp/> Work began in October 2012 with a projected opening date of spring 2014.


==Architecture==
==Architecture==
[[File:Grosvenor Room Grand Hotel.png|thumb|The Grosvenor Room c.1920]]
[[File:Grosvenor Room Grand Hotel.png|thumb|The Grosvenor Room c.1920]]
The Grand Hotel is one of the largest Victorian buildings in central Birmingham and forms part of the informal square around St Philip's Cathedral. The materials used on the north side of Colmore Row are predominantly stone with some brick and [[terracotta]].{{sfn|Foster|2005|p=99}} The Colmore Estate insisted in the use of stone to add, status, grandeur and dignity to the north side of Colmore Row.<ref name=bho/> It has been stated that the north side of Colmore Row presents the best ensemble of Mid-Victorian [[palazzo]] splendour in Birmingham.{{sfn|Muthesius|1978|p=193}}
The Grand Hotel is one of the largest Victorian buildings in central Birmingham and forms part of the informal square around St Philip's Cathedral. The materials used on the north side of Colmore Row are predominantly stone with some brick and [[terracotta]].{{sfn|Foster|2005|p=99}} The Colmore Estate insisted on the use of stone to add status, grandeur and dignity to the north side of Colmore Row.<ref name=bho/> It has been stated that the north side of Colmore Row presents the best ensemble of Mid-Victorian [[palazzo]] splendour in Birmingham.{{sfn|Muthesius|1978|p=193}}


The building, by Thomson Plevins, is principally of French Renaissance style, a style first used on a large hotel at the [[Hilton London Paddington|Great Western Hotel, Paddington]] by [[Philip Hardwick]] in 1851.<ref name=eh/> The Colmore Row frontage is of 22 bays and symmetrical and built from [[ashlar]] and brick with stone dressings and hipped slate roofs with lead dressings.<ref name=eh/> The Church Street façade is of 7 bays and decoratively similar to the Colmore Row front.<ref name=eh/>
The building, by Thomson Plevins, is principally of French Renaissance style, a style first used on a large hotel at the [[Hilton London Paddington|Great Western Hotel, Paddington]] by [[Philip Hardwick]] in 1851.<ref name=eh/> The Colmore Row frontage is of 22 bays and symmetrical and built from [[ashlar]] and brick with stone dressings and hipped slate roofs with lead dressings.<ref name=eh/> The Church Street façade is of 7 bays and decoratively similar to the Colmore Row front.<ref name=eh/>


The interior was redesigned by Martin & Chamberlain in 1890–91 and in 1893–95 they built an eight storey red brick and terracotta block fronting onto Barwick Street.{{sfn|Ballard|2009|p=350}} Within this block an elaborately decorated ballroom was built, named the Grosvenor Room. It is {{convert|100|ft|m}} long and {{convert|32|ft|m}} high.<ref name=bho/> The decoration includes ornate plasterwork, giant corinthian pilasters and elegant cartouches. The large elaborate [[art-deco]] light fittings date from the 1920s.<ref name=bho/> The double height ballroom was made possible with the innovative use of steelwork.{{sfn|Ballard|2009|p=161}} The structural steelwork used in the Grosvenor Room was possibly the first of its kind in [[Great Britain]], as the use of steel in construction was still in its infancy at the time.<ref name=bho/> The description of the Grosvenor Room in [[William Martin (architect)|William Martin's]] obituary in the ''Birmingham Post'', states that "Some new peculiarities of construction were adopted in order to secure for the Grosvenor Room its wide expansive ceilings without any supporting pillars. This is by far the largest in the country and it was made secure by the employment of a series of deep girders."<ref>{{cite news|title=Death of [[William Martin (architect)|Mr William Martin]]|url=|date=19 July 1900|work=Birmingham Post|accessdate=6 June 2012|location=Birmingham|first=|last=}}</ref>
The interior was redesigned by Martin & Chamberlain in 1890–91, and in 1893–95 the firm built an eight-storey red brick and terracotta block fronting onto Barwick Street.{{sfn|Ballard|2009|p=350}} Within this block an elaborately decorated ballroom was built, named the Grosvenor Room. It is {{convert|100|ft|m}} long and {{convert|32|ft|m}} high.<ref name=bho/> The decoration includes ornate plasterwork, giant corinthian pilasters and elegant cartouches. The large elaborate [[art-deco]] light fittings date from the 1920s.<ref name=bho/> The double height ballroom was made possible with the innovative use of steelwork.{{sfn|Ballard|2009|p=161}} The structural steelwork used in the Grosvenor Room was possibly the first of its kind in Great Britain, as the use of steel in construction was still in its infancy at the time.<ref name=bho/> The description of the Grosvenor Room in [[William Martin (architect)|William Martin's]] obituary in the ''Birmingham Post'' states that "Some new peculiarities of construction were adopted in order to secure for the Grosvenor Room its wide expansive ceilings without any supporting pillars. This is by far the largest in the country and it was made secure by the employment of a series of deep girders."<ref>{{cite news|title=Death of [[William Martin (architect)|Mr William Martin]]|url=|date=19 July 1900|work=Birmingham Post|accessdate=6 June 2012|location=Birmingham|first=|last=}}</ref>


==Renovation==
==Renovation==
Line 120: Line 120:
In the summer of 2011, [[Arup|Arup Façade Engineering]] and Linford Group were appointed by Hortons' Estate at a cost of £1.5 million to find a solution to restore the façade.<ref name=bp1/> It was discovered that some of the stone was unsuitable for construction in the first place and laid incorrectly.<ref name=bp1/> The restoration team formed a repair strategy and worked on a trial area on Church Street. The strategy comprised stripping all paint and render back to solid stone, replacing all failed stone and repainting with modern paint that allows water vapour to permeate through it.<ref name=bp1/>
In the summer of 2011, [[Arup|Arup Façade Engineering]] and Linford Group were appointed by Hortons' Estate at a cost of £1.5 million to find a solution to restore the façade.<ref name=bp1/> It was discovered that some of the stone was unsuitable for construction in the first place and laid incorrectly.<ref name=bp1/> The restoration team formed a repair strategy and worked on a trial area on Church Street. The strategy comprised stripping all paint and render back to solid stone, replacing all failed stone and repainting with modern paint that allows water vapour to permeate through it.<ref name=bp1/>


After the successful trial, £30 million proposals were drawn up and went on public consultation in January 2012 followed by a planning application in February 2012.<ref name=bp2/> The application outlined plans to transform the building into a 152 bedroom luxury hotel. The restoration would comprise of remodeling the original 230 rooms into 152 air conditioned rooms, 8 new suites, with 2 new roof terraces in previously unused roof space, and 9 new meeting rooms in the former stock rooms.<ref name=bp2>{{cite news|title=£30m plan to restore Birmingham's Grand Hotel to former glories|url=http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/other-uk-business/2012/01/05/30m-plan-to-restore-birmingham-s-grand-hotel-to-former-glories-65233-30062257/|date=5 January 2012|work=[[Birmingham Post]]|accessdate=6 June 2012|location=Birmingham|first=Alun|last=Thorne}}</ref> Other elements include the creation of a terrace in the central courtyard, a hotel bar and restaurant accessed from Colmore Row, a standalone bar on the corner of Church Street and Barwick Street, a new main entrance on Church Street, and refurbished shops on Colmore Row based on a harmonised design and colour scheme.<ref name=bp/> The stonework facades on Colmore Row and Church Street, the Grosvenor Suites and the grand staircase will be restored to their former glory.<ref name=bp/>
After the successful trial, £30 million proposals were drawn up and went on public consultation in January 2012 followed by a planning application in February 2012.<ref name=bp2/> The application outlined plans to transform the building into a 152-bedroom luxury hotel. The restoration would comprise of remodeling the original 230 rooms into 152 air conditioned rooms, 8 new suites, with 2 new roof terraces in previously unused roof space, and 9 new meeting rooms in the former stock rooms.<ref name=bp2>{{cite news|title=£30m plan to restore Birmingham's Grand Hotel to former glories|url=http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/other-uk-business/2012/01/05/30m-plan-to-restore-birmingham-s-grand-hotel-to-former-glories-65233-30062257/|date=5 January 2012|work=[[Birmingham Post]]|accessdate=6 June 2012|location=Birmingham|first=Alun|last=Thorne}}</ref> Other elements include the creation of a terrace in the central courtyard, a hotel bar and restaurant accessed from Colmore Row, a standalone bar on the corner of Church Street and Barwick Street, a new main entrance on Church Street, and refurbished shops on Colmore Row based on a harmonised design and colour scheme.<ref name=bp/> The stonework facades on Colmore Row and Church Street, the Grosvenor Suites and the grand staircase will be restored to their former glory.<ref name=bp/>


The project team for the project will be Hortons' Estate Ltd and architects Berman Guedes Stretton. On 26 April 2012 the planning application received unanimous backing from city councillors.<ref name=bp8>{{cite news|title=£30m Grand Hotel restoration approved|url=http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/other-uk-business/2012/05/02/30m-grand-hotel-restoration-approved-65233-30885032/|date=2 May 2012|work=[[Birmingham Post]]|accessdate=26 June 2012|location=Birmingham|first=Cillian|last=O'Brien}}</ref> The project began in October 2012 with a projected finishing date of Spring 2014.<ref name=bp/> The contract for the restoration of the façade was awarded to Midland Conservation Limited with the works expected to take 18 months. Restoration of the façade will cost £2.5 million with 8% of the cost coming from a grant from [[English Heritage]].<ref name=bp9>{{cite news|title=Facade contract placed|url=http://www.grandhotelbirmingham.co.uk/latest-news-121203.htm|date=3 December 2012|work=|accessdate=4 December 2012|location=|first=|last=}}</ref>
The project team for the project will be Hortons' Estate Ltd and architect Berman Guedes Stretton. On 26 April 2012 the planning application received unanimous backing from city councillors.<ref name=bp8>{{cite news|title=£30m Grand Hotel restoration approved|url=http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/other-uk-business/2012/05/02/30m-grand-hotel-restoration-approved-65233-30885032/|date=2 May 2012|work=[[Birmingham Post]]|accessdate=26 June 2012|location=Birmingham|first=Cillian|last=O'Brien}}</ref> The project began in October 2012 with a projected finishing date of Spring 2014.<ref name=bp/> The contract for the restoration of the façade was awarded to Midland Conservation Limited with the works expected to take 18 months. Restoration of the façade will cost £2.5 million with 8% of the cost coming from a grant from [[English Heritage]].<ref name=bp9>{{cite news|title=Facade contract placed|url=http://www.grandhotelbirmingham.co.uk/latest-news-121203.htm|date=3 December 2012|work=|accessdate=4 December 2012|location=|first=|last=}}</ref>


==In media==
==In media==

Revision as of 04:42, 3 February 2013

Grand Hotel
The Grand Hotel in 1896
Grand Hotel, Birmingham is located in West Midlands county
Grand Hotel, Birmingham
General information
StatusUnder renovation
TypeHotel
Architectural styleFrench Renaissance[1]
Location43 Colmore Row, Birmingham
CountryUnited Kingdom
Construction started1875
Opened1 February 1879
Renovated2012—2014 (Proposed)
Renovation cost£30 million
OwnerHortons' Estate Ltd
Height
Height30 metres (98 ft)
Top floor7
Technical details
Floor count10
Design and construction
Architect(s)Thomson Plevins Martin & Chamberlain (Extension & Grosvenor Suites, 1893–95)
DesignationsGrade II* Listed
Renovating team
Architect(s)Berman Guedes Stretton
Renovating firmMidland Conservation Ltd Trebor Developments (Project Managers)
Structural engineerArup
Services engineerRPS Group

The Grand Hotel is a Grade II* listed Victorian hotel in the city centre of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. The hotel occupies the greater part of a block bounded by Colmore Row, Church Street, Barwick Street and Livery Street and overlooks St Philip's Cathedral and churchyard. Designed by architect Thomson Plevins[2] construction began in 1875 with the hotel opening in 1879.[3] Extensions and extensive interior renovations were undertaken by prominent Birmingham architecture firm Martin & Chamberlain from 1890 to 1895. Interior renovations included the building of the Grosvenor Room which boasts rich and impressive Louis XIV style decoration.

The hotel closed in 2002 and due to the risk of crumbling stonework it has been under scaffolding and protective covers since. In 2012 planning permission was granted for plans to restore the building into a luxury 152-bedroom hotel. Works began in October 2012 with the target of reopening in Spring 2014.[4]

History

Before the 1870s, St Philip's churchyard was surrounded with Georgian terraces. However, as a result of the Second Birmingham Improvement Act of 1861, the buildings were to be cleared for the redevelopment of Colmore Row. As the leases on the buildings on Colmore Row began to end in the late 1860s, demolition began.[5] Barwick Street was constructed in 1870 and several plots of land bounded by Colmore Row, Church Street, Barwick Street and Livery Street were acquired to create the site of the hotel. Isaac Horton, a major Birmingham land and property owner and his architect and builder, Thomson Plevins, were very active in the acquisition of the land and developing it in line with the 1861 Act.[3] Plevins issued three separate contracts for the Colmore Row range of the hotel and construction work started in 1875 on the corner of Church Street.[3] The hotel opened on 1 February 1879, with 100 rooms and a further 60 unfinished at the time of opening.[3] Other facilities included a restaurant with an entrance fronting Church Street, two coffee rooms and stock rooms.[3] The stock rooms were an exhibition space where businessmen could demonstrate their new products and were built as the hotel aimed to attract most of its clients from commercial visitors from out of town.[1] The hotel was let to Arthur Field, a hotel operator from Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1880 the hotel was extended, when the corner of Church Street and Barwick Street was built.

Colmore Row in 1870, before the hotel was built

In 1890, the hotel operator fell into financial difficulties, and the hotel was handed back to the owners Hortons' Estate Ltd.[3] The owners then decided to revamp the hotel to appeal more to the luxury market. From 1890–91, the majority of the interior of the hotel was reconstructed, decorated and furnished at a cost of £40,000 by Martin and Chamberlain.[3] In 1893–95, extensive additions were made with the construction of a new block fronting Barwick Street.[1] Within this new block was the Grosvenor Room, the Grosvenor Drawing Room, and the Crush Room, all decorated in rich and impressive Louis XIV style decoration.[6] The building contractors were Barnsley and Son of Ryland St. North,[1] and the building was furnished by Norton and Co. of Corporation Sreet.[3] 75 new bedrooms were built in the new block, and two highly decorated billiards rooms were added to the basement.[3] The stock rooms remained as they were an essential part of the commercial accent of the hotel.

The hotel's heyday was in the early 20th century, when it played host to royalty, politicians and film stars as well as staging many dinners, concerts and dances in the Grosvenor Suites. King George VI, Winston Churchill, Neville Chamberlain, Charlie Chaplin, James Cagney and Joe Louis attended functions or stayed in the hotel at this time. Despite its previous success, as the century continued, the hotel ran into financial difficulties and closed in 1969. Hickmet Hotels took lease of the hotel in 1972, and even after a £500,00 refurbishment, trading conditions proved difficult, and they fell into receivership in 1976.

Grand Metropolitan Hotels took over the lease in 1977 and undertook a £1.5 million refurbishment. In 1978, architects Harper Sperring undertook a modernisation of the interior and the exterior of the hotel.[7] A major repair job was undertaken on the exterior stonework on Colmore Row and Church Street which comprised applying a resin sealant coat, followed by a thick cement layer and then over painting.[7] In 1982 the lease was passed to Queens' Moat Hotels; with little investment and maintenance during the 1980s and 1990s, the hotel again fell into decline. In August 2002, the hotel closed due to financial difficulties. The exterior of the building began to deteriorate because of poor quality stonework; scaffolding was erected for public safety. In 2003, plans were put forward by the owners to demolish the building as the maintenance costs were becoming too high.[3] The Victorian Society countered these plans by putting forward an application to spot-list the building to save it from demolition.[1] In May 2004, the building was designated with a Grade II* listing protecting it from demolition.

In 2012, a planning application was put forward and accepted to restore the hotel. Owners Hortons' Estates proposed a £30 million scheme to the restore the hotel's façade, the Grosvenor Suites, and the grand staircase, and to re-model the inside to create a 152-bedroom, 8-suite, luxury hotel and move the main entrance to Church Street.[4] Work began in October 2012 with a projected opening date of spring 2014.

Architecture

The Grosvenor Room c.1920

The Grand Hotel is one of the largest Victorian buildings in central Birmingham and forms part of the informal square around St Philip's Cathedral. The materials used on the north side of Colmore Row are predominantly stone with some brick and terracotta.[8] The Colmore Estate insisted on the use of stone to add status, grandeur and dignity to the north side of Colmore Row.[1] It has been stated that the north side of Colmore Row presents the best ensemble of Mid-Victorian palazzo splendour in Birmingham.[9]

The building, by Thomson Plevins, is principally of French Renaissance style, a style first used on a large hotel at the Great Western Hotel, Paddington by Philip Hardwick in 1851.[3] The Colmore Row frontage is of 22 bays and symmetrical and built from ashlar and brick with stone dressings and hipped slate roofs with lead dressings.[3] The Church Street façade is of 7 bays and decoratively similar to the Colmore Row front.[3]

The interior was redesigned by Martin & Chamberlain in 1890–91, and in 1893–95 the firm built an eight-storey red brick and terracotta block fronting onto Barwick Street.[10] Within this block an elaborately decorated ballroom was built, named the Grosvenor Room. It is 100 feet (30 m) long and 32 feet (9.8 m) high.[1] The decoration includes ornate plasterwork, giant corinthian pilasters and elegant cartouches. The large elaborate art-deco light fittings date from the 1920s.[1] The double height ballroom was made possible with the innovative use of steelwork.[11] The structural steelwork used in the Grosvenor Room was possibly the first of its kind in Great Britain, as the use of steel in construction was still in its infancy at the time.[1] The description of the Grosvenor Room in William Martin's obituary in the Birmingham Post states that "Some new peculiarities of construction were adopted in order to secure for the Grosvenor Room its wide expansive ceilings without any supporting pillars. This is by far the largest in the country and it was made secure by the employment of a series of deep girders."[12]

Renovation

File:Grand Hotel New Proposal.png
How the new Church Street entrance will look on completion.

After the hotel closed in August 2002, the building fell into disrepair and the poor quality stonework on the buildings façade began to crumble.[7] After some of the stonework fell onto the pavement in Colmore Row, the building was surrounded with scaffolding and protective covers to protect the public. Escalating maintenance costs led to the proposal by the owners to demolish the building in 2003. The proposal was dropped when the building was listed as a Grade II* listed building in 2004. The building then continued to lay vacant (except for the shops fronting Colmore Row) as the cost of repairing and restoring the building was deemed as too high or not even feasible due to the poor state of the exterior stonework.[7]

Under renovation in November 2012

In the summer of 2011, Arup Façade Engineering and Linford Group were appointed by Hortons' Estate at a cost of £1.5 million to find a solution to restore the façade.[7] It was discovered that some of the stone was unsuitable for construction in the first place and laid incorrectly.[7] The restoration team formed a repair strategy and worked on a trial area on Church Street. The strategy comprised stripping all paint and render back to solid stone, replacing all failed stone and repainting with modern paint that allows water vapour to permeate through it.[7]

After the successful trial, £30 million proposals were drawn up and went on public consultation in January 2012 followed by a planning application in February 2012.[13] The application outlined plans to transform the building into a 152-bedroom luxury hotel. The restoration would comprise of remodeling the original 230 rooms into 152 air conditioned rooms, 8 new suites, with 2 new roof terraces in previously unused roof space, and 9 new meeting rooms in the former stock rooms.[13] Other elements include the creation of a terrace in the central courtyard, a hotel bar and restaurant accessed from Colmore Row, a standalone bar on the corner of Church Street and Barwick Street, a new main entrance on Church Street, and refurbished shops on Colmore Row based on a harmonised design and colour scheme.[4] The stonework facades on Colmore Row and Church Street, the Grosvenor Suites and the grand staircase will be restored to their former glory.[4]

The project team for the project will be Hortons' Estate Ltd and architect Berman Guedes Stretton. On 26 April 2012 the planning application received unanimous backing from city councillors.[14] The project began in October 2012 with a projected finishing date of Spring 2014.[4] The contract for the restoration of the façade was awarded to Midland Conservation Limited with the works expected to take 18 months. Restoration of the façade will cost £2.5 million with 8% of the cost coming from a grant from English Heritage.[15]

In media

During January 2012 the BBC drama 'Dancing on the Edge' written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff used the Grosvenor Room as a filming location.[16]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Spot-listing Application for Grand Hotel" (PDF). The Victorian Society. Retrieved 07 June 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ Thornton 2006, p. 26.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Inspectors Listing Advice Print for Grand Hotel" (PDF). English Heritage. Retrieved 07 June 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ a b c d e Elkes, Neil (30 March 2012). "Birmingham Grand Hotel restoration backed by city councillors". Birmingham Post. Birmingham. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  5. ^ Turner 1994, p. 98.
  6. ^ "Additions to the Grand Hotel". The Builder. 5 October 1895. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "New Hope for Future of Birmingham's Grand Hotel". Birmingham Post. Birmingham. 13 October 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  8. ^ Foster 2005, p. 99.
  9. ^ Muthesius 1978, p. 193.
  10. ^ Ballard 2009, p. 350.
  11. ^ Ballard 2009, p. 161.
  12. ^ "Death of Mr William Martin". Birmingham Post. Birmingham. 19 July 1900. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  13. ^ a b Thorne, Alun (5 January 2012). "£30m plan to restore Birmingham's Grand Hotel to former glories". Birmingham Post. Birmingham. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  14. ^ O'Brien, Cillian (2 May 2012). "£30m Grand Hotel restoration approved". Birmingham Post. Birmingham. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  15. ^ "Facade contract placed". 3 December 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  16. ^ "Hustle and Dancing on the Edge put Birmingham locations in the spotlight". Birmingham Post. Birmingham. 16 February 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2012.

References

52°28′55″N 1°53′56″W / 52.482076°N 1.899027°W / 52.482076; -1.899027

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