Grosvenor selects partner to overhaul RAAC-affected Chester hotel
Martin Property Group is to deliver The Chester Grosvenor’s first comprehensive refurbishment in 40 years and will also operate the venue once it reopens.
In March, Bespoke Hotels announced it would be closing the grade two-listed Eastgate Street hotel at the end of September due to the cost and complexity of remediating potentially unstable reinforced autoclave aerated concrete found above the five-star hotel’s function rooms.
Speaking at the time, Grosvenor, which owns the hotel’s freehold, said it was committed to investing in the asset.
Located at the heart of Chester’s historic core next to the Eastgate Clock, the hotel was constructed in the 1860s and features 79 bedrooms and suites, two restaurants, and a spa.
Keen to secure the future of the asset, Grosvenor has entered into an agreement with Martin Property Group that will see millions invested to bring the hotel back into use.
Nicholas Dobbs, head of Grosvenor’s family office and Grosvenor Rural Estates, which will retain the freehold of the hotel site, said: “We are delighted to have chosen Martin Property Group to shape the next chapter of the hotel’s history and, upon completion, to operate the business.
“Grosvenor has deep roots in Chester and a long-term commitment to its success. It was vital to us to choose a partner that shares our values and outlook, with the credentials, independence and perspective needed to protect the character that makes the hotel so special.
“Our ambition is to reopen as The Chester Grosvenor, creating new employment, strengthening Chester’s tourism and hospitality economy and delivering long-term value for the city.”
Martin Property Group has a track record in hotels, owning and operating the 165-bedroom former Virgin Hotel on Clyde Street in Belfast and the Leonardo Hotel in Chester.
The company has become a fixture in Chester in recent years. In 2022, MPG acquired the freehold of the former Grosvenor Shopping Centre, now Eastgate Shopping Centre, from Grosvenor. The firm also owns the former Browns of Chester building on Eastgate Street, which it has redeveloped following Debenhams departure. Part of the building is now occupied by Harrods.
Paul G. Martin, managing director of Martin Property Group, said: “The Chester Grosvenor represents the next chapter in our significant and growing investment in the city. This partnership reflects our confidence in Chester and our long-term commitment to the city.
“We understand the responsibility that comes with being the long-term custodian of a building of this importance. Together with Grosvenor, our ambition is to create an exceptional five-star hotel that celebrates its remarkable heritage while establishing a contemporary destination of national and international standing.
“We look forward to taking responsibility for the next chapter of this exceptional hotel, being part of its transformation and ensuring the Chester Grosvenor remains one of the city’s great landmarks for generations to come.”
Bespoke will close the hotel on 30 September and plans are now being worked up for its refurbishment by MPG.
Subject to planning, the works are expected to take around two years from when they begin.
