Photo of
July 21, 2014

Glasgow’s Grand Central Hotel has hosted some very prestigious guests over the years. JFK stayed in the hotel when he was giving a speech in the city as a Harvard Student. Carey Grant, Winston Churchill, and Frank Sinatra were all guests in the hotel, along with many stars from the golden age of Hollywood.

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Grand Central Hotel

John Logie Baird transmitted the first ever television signal on the hotel’s fourth floor in 1927. Back in in the first decades of the 20th century, Grand Central was the epitome of glamour, with its marble floors, grand ballroom and trio of musicians who entertained the dinner guests every evening. In 1983 the hotel was sold and after being passed around a number of different private operators, its glory days become a thing of the past and the building fell intro disrepair.

Refurbishment

In 2009 Grand Central was bought by the Principal Haley Group and a year later it reopened after a £20m refurbishment. Four years later, Grand Central has re-established itself as one of the most stylish hotels in the city, boasting sleek, modern rooms while retaining the feel of a bye-gone era.

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Champagne Central

“Grand Central really is a mix of the old and the new,” Clare Fairfield, Grand Central’s Sales Executive said. “It was “the” hotel in Glasgow, especially in the 1940s and 1950s. When Hollywood stars came to Glasgow, this is where they would stay and it was our aspiration to get back to that point.” “When the building was closed for that short time it could have become anything so the fact we have taken it over and brought it back almost to its former glory is something we are very proud of.”

Original features

During the refurbishment process, builders got to work destroying the changes that had been made by the previous hotel group, knocking down walls and peeling back carpets to discover the original fixtures and fittings. “The marble floor of the champagne bar was under some carpets,” Clare said. “Of course it didn’t look like it did now, it took some time to see if we could save it and do something with it, but luckily we have been able to.” ‘In the 1970s the ceiling in the ballroom had been lowered and the tops of the pillars had been hidden away with all the lovely gold coving that was around the top of them.” “There is a room on the corner where they found another space above the ceiling with gorgeous gold coving and another set of windows.” “Everything in the hotel is listed. The iron work is one of the best examples of iron work in the UK today, especially above the entrance of the front door.”

Modern

Grand Central isn’t just a relic of the past however. The decor is sleek and sophisticated and the hotel continues to upgrade with a recently refurbished reception area and several bedroom, the newest of which boast high tech mirrors with televisions integrated inside.

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Champagne Central Lounge

The restaurant, along with Tempus Bar, offers dining option in stylish surroundings with menus focused on modern imaginative dishes made with the Scottish produce. Tempus Bar focuses on classics such as pizzas, burgers, steak and fish and chips. “I think the haggis bon bons are the most popular dish in the restaurant,” Tempus manager Barry Van Den Berg said. “The pork belly is very popular as well. It is brought over to the table on a wooden board and carved in front of you so it is very official.” “My favourite dish is the lemon sole,” Clare added. “The hollandaise sauce has whole grapes and comes with the fish and gives a fresh citrus taste to it as you eat the fish.” “The balcony in Tempus is still Malmasion, where they used to perform and entertain people when they were eating in the restaurant. It is one of the few places in Glasgow where you can eat in a place with heritage attached.”

Glasgow institution

However, despite the grand plans and London influence, Grand Central very much remains a Glasgow institution.

“A lot of our staff have been here since we opened which really comes across,” Clare said.

“We have been here since hotels have been in Glasgow. We consider ourself a Glasgow hotel and we are here for the people of Glasgow. We are really proud we have that Glasgow personality.”

30% a la carte discount + glass of wine at Tempus or  £15 2 person offer – 2 pizzas or 2 burgers + beer or glass of house wine at Tempus Bar in Grand Central when booking on 5pm.