Guildhall to become Bristol's only five-star hotel

A HISTORIC building in the heart of Bristol is to be transformed into the city's only five-star hotel, The Post can reveal.

The Trevor Osborne Property Group has bought the Guildhall from the city council and plans to convert the 19th Century building into a £10 million luxury hotel.

The plans for the exclusive hotel, which will include a spa complex and rooftop swimming pool, will be considered by the city council later this year.

The firm behind the scheme is based in Bath and specialises in converting historic properties into exclusive hotels. The firm's most recent schemes have included the conversion of a Victorian jail in Northern Ireland and the renovation of the Buxton Crescent Hotel. The company has agreed to buy the former county court building from the council and is in the process of drawing up a planning application.

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The historic building was sold to the firm last summer and because of its impressive facade on both Small Street and Broad Street it is viewed as historically important.

The building has been standing empty ever since the county court moved to Redcliffe two years ago.

The council aims to make the area around Corn Street, which is being marketed as the Old City, a major tourist destination and the new hotel will be part of that plan.

Under the plans the building would increase in height but the extension would not be visible from the street. The plans also include restaurants, lounges, conference rooms and 64 rooms and suites.

The scheme has been put together by award-winning architects, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, and talks have already taken place with council officers, as well as the Urban Design Group, English Heritage and the Old City Traders Association.

Trevor Osborne, chairman of the development company, said: "This will be a high-quality hotel under high-quality management, representing a step change in the fortunes of Broad Street. I am delighted to say that the parties that we have consulted in relation to the project have welcomed our involvement and share our excitement for the future of these important buildings."

Architect Jonathan Bassindale said: "We are delighted to be working on this fascinating building in the heart of the Old City of Bristol. Our proposals will open up this important building in Bristol's history allowing it to be appreciated by residents and visitors alike, whilst also contributing to the vital renewal of this part of the city."