Revamp Developer spies opportunity in hotel’s basement
GUEST rooms are to be created in the basement of the George Hotel in Cheltenham. The town centre property was sold to Julian Dunkerton’s firm the Lucky Onion Group last summer and the latest plans continue its smart revamp.
In May 2019, listed building consent was given for builders to start the project, which involves the re-installation of walls on the ground floor to create new bedrooms, service areas converted to areas for people to stay, a new reception and dining area.
The hotel on St George’s Road is made up of five adjacent townhouses which date from the 1840s.
Various alterations have been made to the properties and a smaller section of them was the Bayshill Hotel in the 1920s.
Dunkerton Properties have now decided to relocate the reception area, including a self-check-in area with interactive terminals.
A cleaner’s store is being introduced on all floors
“Currently changes of fresh linen and cleaning equipment would have to be stored in the basement & brought up the staircases,” the latest application states.
“This would be time consuming for staff, disruptive for guests and wearing on the fabric of the building (especially as large dirty linen bags would inevitably be dragged down the staircases).”
It adds: “In order to offset the loss of guest accommodation (through formation of the linen/cleaner’s stores) a number of rooms will be converted to bedrooms in the basement.”
The application for the improvements which are set to “greatly improve the guest experience and functionality of the hotel” were given the green light by the council on August 30.
The hotel was put on the market in 2017 for £3.6 million by Cotswolds Inns and Hotels.
However, it proved a bit more difficult to sell than first thought, as the asking price was slashed by £350,000 in March 2018.
The lodgings are a short walk away from the prime shopping and nightlife area of Montpellier and the Promenade.
Lucky Onion Group have recently taken over the Hollow Bottom in Guiting Power and its builders are also busy refurbishing The Crown Inn at Minchinhampton.