One of Bristol’s oldest buildings finally set to be transformed

Work on transforming one of Bristol’s most historic buildings has appeared to have stepped up a gear, with new signage around the Guildhall giving a clue as to who is behind the latest scheme.

Plans were first revealed in 2015 to convert the building on Small Street into a £10m luxury hotel with a rooftop swimming pool but nothing has happened until now other than it being squatted and more recently catching fire.

Specialist hotel refurbishment contractors are now on site, however, with scaffolding looking likely to soon surround the current Guildhall, which was built between 1843 and 1846 replacing a previous 15th century building which retained some older interiors.

The Guildhall has entrances on both Small Street and here on Broad Street – photo: Martin Booth

The Guildhall was historically the seat of Bristol’s local government as well as holding the mayor’s parlour and courtrooms, one of which reportedly has a Jacobean chimneypiece originally from a house on Welsh Back dating from 1626.

It has been empty since the county court relocated to Redcliffe in 2011, with the courtrooms inside used for the filming of shows including The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies for ITV in 2014.

The plans first revealed almost a decade ago were for the Grade II* listed building and the adjacent Grade I listed former Bank of England on Broad Street to be transformed into a new hotel, with a new walkway opened up that would connect Small Street and Broad Street.

The new hotel was due to have 92 bedrooms, a restaurant and entrances on both streets. A rooftop extension would give high-end rooms views of the city, and create space for a pool and spa.

Original plans for the hotel from 2015 were for a walkway to connect Small Street with Corn Street – photo: Martin Booth

Signs currently around the building show that Surrey-based company Paton Developments are now on site working for a client named as Broad Street Hotels Ltd.

A look at Companies House for Broad Street Hotels Ltd shows a company that is registered in Elland, just north of Huddersfield in West Yorkshire.

More interesting that its geography, however, are its officers: Jonathan Booth (no relation to Bristol24/7 Editor, Martin Booth), Simon Marshall, Robert Moore and Trevor Osborne.

The website of property mogul Osborne’s The Osborne Group says that the Guildhall “is to be restored and will become a circa 90 room five star hotel with substantial public areas, dining rooms, bars, function rooms and an extensive spa. A swimming pool is to be located on the roof of the building.”

Among the other companies with Booth and Marshall are directed are ones linked to Hotel Brooklyn, which has hotels in Manchester and Leicester.

A sister hotel is Hotel Gotham in Manchester, part of the Gotham Group which says on its website that it is “looking ahead to new developments in Glasgow, Brighton, Birmingham, Bath, and London (and is) excited to bring you our famed cocktail of luxury, location and history, all set within buildings that tell a story”.

Bristol24/7 has contacted the Brooklyn Hotel and the Gotham Group to ask for more information.

An entrance to the Guildhall on Broad Street – photo: Martin Booth

Main photo: Martin Booth

Join Bristol24/7 Editor Martin Booth on a walking tour of the Old City and Castle Park, and get a signed copy of his bestselling guidebook and a coffee from Full Court Press on Broad Street: www.yuup.co/experiences/explore-bristol-s-quirkiest-corners

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