06/05/2010

Published by Cedar Court Grand York

7th May: Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa has opened its doors to guests, bringing five-star hospitality to York for the first time.

Mr George Demetriou, Cedar Court Hotels' founder, and his grandson Alex Georgiou (9), cut the ribbon to signal the opening and the completion of a two year £25m redevelopment project.

Mr Demetriou said:

"This is a very proud day for me, my family and all of the Cedar Court Hotels team. When I first started in business 50 years ago in York it was my dream to one day open a five-star hotel, and now that dream has come true. We're now looking forward to becoming a focal point of tourism in York and the Yorkshire region.

General Manager, Andrew Coney, said:

"When we set out to create The Grand, we had history on our side. The building - which was constructed in 1906 for the North Eastern Railway Company - is one of the city's most iconic buildings, and it is simply beautiful. We knew immediately that The Grand Hotel should evoke the Golden Age of travel, reaching back to the opulence and luxury that people experienced on the Orient Express or Queen Mary, and recreating that - with contemporary flourishes - for 2010. Seeing the completed hotel, it's clear that our vision has been realised."

The Grand has 107 bedrooms, including 13 suites with butler service and a £750 a night penthouse. Many of the rooms have views of the historic York Wall and York's spectacular Minster and, as a grade II listed building, most of the original features remain. These include beautiful mosaic tiling, parquet floors and wood paneled meeting rooms. Though many hotels make the boast, each bedroom at The Grand really is unique in shape and design, with quirky architectural features that include porthole windows, skylights and vault doors.

The Grand's public areas include a cocktail bar, whisky lounge (with over 190 bottlings), the HQ Restaurant and a Spa (opening in June). Well-known mixologist Wayne Collins, trained the bar staff in cocktail preparation and presentation, and created the ‘Grand Cocktail', which is unique to the hotel.

History of the Building

When it was completed in 1906, the new North Eastern Railways Headquarters was described by the Yorkshire Herald as "a huge palace of business".

At the time, the North Eastern was one of the most powerful public companies in Britain and the Board had determined that a new headquarters was required to reflect this status.

It was decided that only the best materials should be used in the construction, despite the fact that the region was, at the time, in recession.

The design was carried out jointly by William Bell, who produced the basic structural design, and Horace Field, who worked on the exterior embellishments and interior detail. Their design is believed to have won a silver medal at an exhibition in Paris in 1904.

Foundations were laid in early 1902, with work on the main structure commencing in May that year. Four years and five million bricks later, it was complete.

 To ensure the best possible finish, the bricks used in facing the building were handmade. Ancaster and Portland stone were used to dress the upper floors and black and white Belgian marble was used in the entrance hall. Splendid terrazzo with Roman mosaic margins was laid in the corridors, whilst patterned wood blocks were used in the offices.

The building was topped by a weather vane - a representation of a North Eastern Railway Class ‘S' 4-6-0.

The vast Board Room - measuring 51 feet by 28 feet - was to be the building's flagship space. It went on to house what was, at its time, the biggest board room table in Britain. The windows were double gazed - an innovative feature for the time.

To mark the opening a Conversazione was hosted by Alexander Butterworth, North Eastern's General Manager. Staircases and corridors were carpeted in crimson, while Herr Iff's orchestra from London played at the top of the main staircase. ENDS