Grand Hotel, Leicester

The Grand Hotel Leicester is a Grade II listed historic landmark situated on Granby Street in the heart of Leicester. Designed by Cecil Ogden and Amos Hall, the hotel was built between 1897 and 1898 by Orson Wright, a key figure in the city’s architectural development. Its most distinctive feature, the wedding-cake style top, crowns the corner of Granby Street and Belvoir Street, an Edwardian flourish added by Amos Hall-who also designed the nearby Silver Arcade.

Inside, the hotel’s King's Hall stands as a testament to late 19th-century opulence. Envisioned by Orson Wright and designed by Amos Hall, this grand first-floor ballroom is adorned with gilt-capped columns and decorative marble, capable of accommodating 350 guests. Over the years, parts of the building also served as a cinema, reflecting its status as a hub of social activity in Leicester.

Long considered one of the city’s most prestigious hotels, the Grand Hotel’s Victorian heyday was a period of elegance and prominence. While the passage of time brought changes, its historic importance remains recognized today. The hotel is located in an area designated as a Heritage Action Zone, and in 2022, a Historic England grant was secured to restore its entrance and frontage shops to their original Victorian appearance.

Currently rated as a 4-star hotel, the Grand Hotel was until recently operated by Mercure Hotels, a division of the multinational Accor Group. Under their management, it was branded first as Mercure Leicester City Hotel and later as Mercure Leicester The Grand Hotel. As Leicester continues to evolve, this historic hotel remains a striking symbol of the city’s architectural and social heritage.