Opening date set for St Pancras Renaissance

The eagerly anticipated St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London will officially open in London’s Kings Cross in May 2011 following an extensive renovation by Manhattan Loft Corporation in conjunction with London & Continental Railways.

Architects are Richard Griffiths Architects (conservation architects) and RHWL.

Galliford Try Plc is the building contractor and GA Design International is the principal interior designer for the hotel. 

David Collins has been brought in to design one of the restaurants and accompanying bar. 

Due to the building’s grade I listed status all work undertaken has been very closely monitored by the London Borough of Camden, English Heritage and The Victorian Society.

The original building ‐ The Midland Grand Hotel ‐ was designed and built by the Victorian architect Sir George Gilbert Scott and opened on 5th May 1873. The historic hotel has now been restored to once again become one of London’s most iconic hotels.

The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London exemplifies High Victorian Gothic architecture in its most dramatic sense, the stunning redbrick building having been saved from demolition in the sixties by a protest led by former Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman.

Preserving the glamour of the old station and the romance of rail travel during the 1800s, the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London will maintain its elegance and charm by offering global travellers a gateway to London in the form of one of the city’s greatest landmarks. The opening of the hotel will mark the completion of the regeneration of St Pancras International Station, now the home of Eurostar.

The magnificent interior has been restored to its former glory with painstaking attention to detail using expert teams of hundreds of craftsmen and painters. Many of the original areas of the hotel considered of particular historical importance have been carefully renovated including the ‘Ladies Smoking Room’, the first place in Europe where it was acceptable for women to smoke in public.

The infamous sweeping forecourt, unique to a London hotel in its size and presence, provides a fitting entrance for the new hotel that will also showcase restored goldleaf ceilings, ornate wall murals and the spectacular grand staircase.

The famous staircase, described as the most majestic in England with windows measuring over 50 feet and crowned by an elaborate vaulted ceiling, has been featured in many films and music videos most notably Batman and the Spice Girl’s video for their debut single ‘Wannabe’.

The £150 million renovation of the 245‐room hotel consists of the historic St Pancras Chambers that will house 38 elegant and spacious Victorian bedroom suites, and Barlow House, the newly created 120,000 square foot extension that will feature original artwork and contemporary design. Guests can continue to re‐live the glamour of the Victorian era at either The Booking Office Bar & Restaurant ‐ recreated in the original ticket office ‐ or the celebrity chef restaurant and bar, occupying the original entrance hall and coffee room. The hotel will also house a 350 capacity ballroom, a private club, a barber’s shop and luxury spa, to include a swimming pool and 7 treatment rooms.

Tina Edmundson, senior vice president lifestyle brands for Marriott International said, “After many years, we are excited to be able to announce the official launch date and are looking forward to showcasing the re‐development of this great masterpiece in the coming year. Renaissance Hotels are all about discovery, and unique experiences.

With its fascinating history and dramatic architecture, I cannot imagine a property that captivates the imagination more than St Pancras and we are thrilled to welcome it in to the Renaissance family. The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London will no doubt become a flagship for the Renaissance brand not only in Europe but around the world.”

Harry Handelsman, owner and CEO of Manhattan Loft Corporation added, “I am delighted that after more than 10 years of meticulous hard work we have now restored the former Midland Grand Hotel to its former glory. Since the unveiling of St Pancras International in 2007 the station has been given a much‐deserved new lease of life and the opening of the hotel marks the completion of this massive achievement. Over the coming years the regeneration of the whole of the Kings Cross area into the capital’s international business and cultural quarter, will make the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London and its setting one of London’s proudest achievements of the early 21st century.”

www.stpancrasrenaissance.com