It was first unveiled in 1867 and has become an iconic feature of Scarborough’s coastline, although it is a shadow of its former self today. In the present day the hotel, operated by Britannia Hotels, is a budget hotel, which has proved to be both popular and notorious. The hotel, while having maintained much of its character, has received criticism as being run down, as the hotel is not kept as clean as in the past and guest satisfaction overall has fallen.

A Storied History

The Grand Hotel was designed by Cuthbert Brodrick and constructed to cater for the influx of visitors to Scarborough during the Victorian era. The house was remarkable, with four towers which corresponded with the four seasons, twelve floors for the twelve months, fifty-two chimneys for the weeks in a year and 365 rooms one for every day of the year . The Grand Hotel was soon one of the largest and most luxurious hotels in Europe with guests including Winston Churchill, Ramsay MacDonald and King Edward VIII.

In its early days the hotel was famous for its vastness, but also its luxurious Victorian style, providing guests with comfort and luxury in the centre of Scarborough. It was a favorite of the moneyed traveler and helped establish the area as a destination for those with the means to travel for leisure.

Wartime Service

The hotel’s history was interrupted temporarily in 1914 by the First World War. The hotel sustained heavy damage during the war, approximately 30 German artillery shells hit the building including the restaurant as a result of a battle that was fought off the coast. The hotel, although badly damaged managed to survive, and much repair and refurbishment work was completed after the war. This stately hotel would remain an iconic symbol of Scarborough’s tourism industry well into the Second World War where it was transformed into an RAF base.

Butlin’s takeover and subsequent Britannia Hotel ownership

The Grand Hotel was purchased by the holiday camp chain Butlin’s in 1978. During Butlin’s tenure the hotel was modernised with considerable investment in modern facilities. As per the changing pattern of leisure and holiday travel, the goal was to make the hotel more attractive to a wider variety of tourists.

But following the evolving landscape of the holiday industry, Butlin’s sold the Grand Hotel in 1998. The hotel was sold to Britannia Hotels, a UK budget hotel chain. Ever since then the Grand Hotel is put on the market to tourists by its classy exterior, which stands in degage contrast to the deteriorating interior areas. Despite the sub par food, bad service and filth adorning much off the place, which is clearly in a state of disrepair, and not being kept up, and a complete change in management, it still received negative feedback from guests.

Current State and Guest Experiences

Since it was bought by Britannia Hotels the Grand Hotel has been the subject of much negative criticism, cleanliness and maintenance being particular areas of concern. Guests complain of filthy mattresses, dirty carpets, mould and poor levels of hygiene in general throughout the premises. Several of the hotel’s gracious old features are now outmoded, and the maintenance has not really met the needs of contemporary guests, who are all to familiar with other more modern hotel offerings.

However it is still a major part of the Hastings holiday offerings. Positioned in the heart of the town’s seafront and offering stunning views of South Bay, it is ideal for tourists that value location over luxury. The reviews however are mixed, some praising it for its culture and iconic stature, others feeling that it lacks the caliper fitting to the hotel’s name.

The Role of the Grand Hotel in Scarborough’s Tourism

Scarborough the UK’s first Seaside resort, a place for family fun, coastal garden, and historical places and a venue hosting tremendous town events. Symbol of tourist appeal The Grand Hotel has always been a symbol of the town’s draw for holidaymakers and while its fortunes have ebbed and flowed, it still plays a key part in the town’s tourism sector.

But the Grand Hotel’s decay also mirrors challenges in the wider UK seaside tourism industry, where traditional resorts are up against pressures from new competitors and shifts in what tourists are looking for. The place is Scarborough and you will witness that an seaside town has transformed itself over the years in to a tourist mecca for all regardless of taste or affordability, from the tight-fisted to the high end spender with respect to hotels, resorts or any type of accommodation you can imagine.

Potential for Revitalization

As Scarborough works to continue to draw tourists, there are continuous conversations about the future of its historic features, among them the Grand Hotel. Maintaining the architectural integrity of the building and at the same time solving the maintenance and hygiene problem, could well rejuvenate the hotel, transforming it as in the past into a paradise for guests.

Who is to know if there will ever be a big change in the hotel, however local authorities and heritage groups are keeping an eye out on the status of extinct building hotels such as the Grand Hotel. Maintaining the historical appeal of the area but also ensuring tourism still stays at the forefront for the local economy,essentially, within the Scarborough area, is vital.

Conclusion

The Grand Hotel in Scarborough is still one of the grandest of a fine collection of seaside buildings in the town, although its condition invites reflections on the UK’s seaside heritage. The hotel’s glorious past is irrefutable, but it struggles before it as it attempts to reshape itself for the demands of the modern tourist. For now the Grand Hotel is a keystone of the wider transformation of English seaside tourism.
Source: United Kingdom Tourism