The Birmingham Grand Hotel

[Erebus555]

I think Birmingham's topography makes working out where water is highest quite difficult. Colmore Row is one of the highest areas in the city centre!

[Stuff]

That's certainly interesting about Ladywell thanks Eberus!

I say if the hotel can't stay as a hotel for it to survive then i say keep the magnificent ball room and use it perhaps as an atrium from which access to the offices owned by different companies would use perhaps? I don't know the plans of the place really but keeping that style throughout would be wonderful.

[fruit&nut]

They did a similar thing with 55 Colmore Row where Wragge & Co currently are. They salvaged the facade and the old listed banking hall, which Wragges have turned into a law library and/or meeting room.

It's very impressive.

[Spread]

More news from Proerty Week:

Hortons’ has Grand designs on listed hotel
30.04.10

By Mark Shepherd

Developer begins meetings with council to decide future of landmark site

Since 1890 the Grand Hotel has been one of the most prominent features of Birmingham’s Colmore Row. In recent years, however, it has provided headaches for both Hortons’ Estate, which owns it, and Birmingham City Council, which wants it to be redeveloped.

Fresh attempts are now being made by both parties to progress with a redevelopment of the 250,000 sq ft site.

“We have been having discussions recently with the council and there will be further discussions over the coming weeks,” says Tony Green, chief executive of Hortons’. “We are engaged in a logical process to determine the best solution for the building. We may find that tomorrow, or it could be in five years. The important thing is that discussions are taking place.”

The Grand’s original use was as a hotel, shops and offices. Green believes that could remain a “logical use” more than 100 years later.

The hotel closed in 2002 and was listed by English Heritage. It was one of the first hotels in Victorian Birmingham to cater for travellers. It is a site that always raises a lot of interest among Brummies, who view it as one of the jewels in the city’s crown.

The affection for it locally is not lost on Green.

“We are looking at what the opportunities are,” says Green. “It’s a big site but there are lot of issues on it which concern the council and, of course English Heritage. We have to find a scheme that everybody is going to be happy with.”

Green has commissioned a study to determine what type of facade the building has and what would be the most sensitive way to carry out a redevelopment. For the past several years the front of the building has been shrouded in covers to protect passersby from the possibility of being struck by falling debris.

“It doesn’t look great but it’s better than someone getting hit on the head,” says Green.

Hortons’ is working on plans for the Grand with Trebor Developments, which is headed by managing partner Bob Trattrie. Hortons’ provides financial support to Trebor, which in return provides development experience.

Trattrie says: “The Grand Hotel is a prime site that has to be handled carefully. There is the possibility of a strong mixed-used scheme but there are still a lot of issues, which have to be ironed out.”

Read more: http://www.propertyweek.com/story.as...#ixzz0oAgl21MF

[Biosonic]

Maybe they are just waiting for it to mysteriously burn down.

[U475 Foxtrot]

“We are engaged in a logical process to determine the best solution for the building. We may find that tomorrow, or it could be in five years.

What's the bet that it will be in five years?

[morestoreysplease]

It is so soul destroying to read the time frames; to see that there isn't much wrong with the building otherwise the shops underneath it and the bar around the back would all be closed.

[nigeman]

I really hope this can be a sympathetic refurbishment that can retain the facade and ballroom, for me this is a real gem and piece of Brum history that must be saved if at all possible.

[ellbrown]

That scaffolding has been up for years and years. Is such a nice looking Victorian hotel - is it not being restored to it's former glory?

image hosted on flickr

Grand Hotel, Colmore Row by ell brown, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Grand Hotel from Church Street - scaffolding by ell brown, on Flickr

Still shops underneath

image hosted on flickr

Grand Hotel from Colmore Row - Bagel Nation by ell brown, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Grand Hotel from Colmore Row - Porte-cochère by ell brown, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Grand Hotel from Colmore Row - looking up to the scaffolding by ell brown, on Flickr

[ellbrown]

It's a Grade II* listed building.

The Grand Hotel, Colmore Row - Heritage Gateway

Hotel, offices and shops. Colmore Road range of 1876 by Thomson Plevins, re-arranged internally in 1890-91 by William Martin and John H. Chamberlain with additions to Church Street and Barwick Streets of the 1880s and 1890s and a further range to Barwick Street of 1894 by Martin and Chamberlain. Ashlar and brick with stone dressings and hipped slate roofs with lead dressings. Principally French C17 and C18, a style first used on a large hotel at the Great Western Hotel Paddington by P.C.Hardwick in 1851 and later by J.T.Knowles Snr. & Jnr. at the Grosvenor Hotel, Victoria. Four to six storeys with attics, lower ground floor and basements.

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The Grand Hotel block forms one of the largest C19 buildings in central Birmingham. Within the overall urban context, and most particularly within its immediate neighbourhood, it makes a very positive and well-mannered contribution to the townscape. Placed in close proximity to James Archer's magnificent Church of St Philip [now the Cathedral], it achieves the difficult task of not dominating its smaller neighbour but still retaining individuality, most particularly by its distinctive skyline. The Barwick Street façade of the block designed in 1894 by Martin and Chamberlain is a fine work by this noted practice and shows an assured and interesting handling of masses. Inside are some especially fine original interiors including the principal staircase and, most notably, the rich and impressive French style decoration of the Grosvenor Room, Grosvenor Drawing Room and Crush Room. Elsewhere there is evidence of the Stock Rooms, which were an essential part of the original commercial accent of the hotel, as well as the rare survival of the shop interior at the Anatomical Boot Co.,25 Colmore Row. The special qualities of this building merit its listing at II*.

[ellbrown]

It was listed as a result of this 2003 letter to the Department of Culture, Media & Sport

The Grand Hotel, Colmore Row listing application

[djay]

yeah its not being restored, Hortons have had it like this for ages, there was a proposal to knock it down, hence why it got listed i think. They say they can not afford to restore it as the building is not fit for a modern use.... i personally don't believe that, they just need some creativity

[ellbrown]

Is the shops down below the only things that change?

You can't help but look up at the hoardings when you are on Colmore Row. Most people don't even look at it, or notice it.

[djay]

im not old enough to rememebr it without any shops if there ever was a time

[Sandblast]

One of a handfull of truly splendid buildings in the centre of Birmingham ... a disgrace that it has been left to rot!

[woodhousen]

it is indeed a disgrace, but i have no idea how it can be overcome!!!

[U475 Foxtrot]

CPO by the council and flogged to someone who will do something with it?

[Sandblast]

Originally Posted by woodhousen

it is indeed a disgrace, but i have no idea how it can be overcome!!!

It was "overcome" here a few years ago

[Erebus555]

Aye, but this is bigger and much different. In those cases you've just posted, they were converted from offices into... offices. The Grand Hotel is a massive hotel building composed of elements built in different eras to different requirements to suit an entirely different customer. In a way, it's a shame the listed status is so strict as it could allow some freedom over a more advantageous solution for the building, especially in times like this.

[Spread]

In the case of most of those buildings only the facade (and a banking hall) were saved, the rest is new build behind. I'm told the grand is more difficult as the windows are all at different levels etc.