Glasgow's famous Grand Central Hotel to reopen after multi-million-pound refurbishment

Glasgow’s iconic Grand Central Hotel is to reopen later this month after a multi-million-pound refurbishment project.

The hotel, which neighbours the city’s Central Station, will open as the rebranded voco Grand Central on March 22, a year on from closing due to the pandemic.

It will welcome guests who are travelling within Scottish Government guidelines before opening for leisure when restrictions are eased.

The expansive refurbishment updated 230 bedrooms, meeting rooms and reception areas, focusing on enhancing the hotel’s historic charm and grandeur.

The makeover aimed to compliment the original Victorian architecture throughout the 19th century hotel, and to preserve memories of the hotel’s golden age, the stories of which are much loved by visitors to the hotel and Glaswegians alike.

A new gallery wall will open for the public to enjoy for the first time, featuring artworks created by the Scottish public and remembering many of the hotel’s celebrity guests.

The hotel is steeped in history, having hosted the likes of John F Kennedy and Frank Sinatra.

The world’s first long-distance television pictures were transmitted to the hotel in May 1927 by John Logie Baird.

The hotel has welcomed some of the world’s biggest stars, as well as the everyday Glaswegian

Paul Bray, UK Area Manager for IHG Hotels & Resorts North said: “We are very proud to be reopening our doors as Scotland’s first voco hotel.

“The rich history of this iconic building and the stories within its walls mean so much to many Glaswegians and guests who have visited the hotel, so we are delighted to be able to continue that legacy as a voco.

“We want locals as well as visitors to the city to be able to make memories here, whether it is an after-work drink, a long lunch or a weekend in one of the UK’s coolest cities.”

The voco Hotels brand is based on sustainability, and the refurbished bedrooms will introduce super soft, high-quality bedding made from 100% recycled materials, with approximately 150 plastic bottles recycled per guest room.

The voco Grand Central will remove miniature toiletries and move to large-size products meaning 80% less plastic waste a year. The hotel will also use glass water bottles in every room, saving on average 300 plastic bottles a year per guest room.

Bray added: “The word voco is inspired by the Latin for ‘come together’ and that is particularly poignant to us. Post-lockdown, when so many of us have spent such a long time apart from family and friends, we hope many will choose voco Grand Central for those special moments when we can reunite and come together again and we can’t wait to have guests return to the hotel to enjoy our new facilities.

“We are also extremely proud to be incorporating everyday sustainable efforts to be kind to our environment, so that this stunning hotel can be enjoyed by future generations.”