York’s most luxurious hotel has seen off competition from across the UK to be named the best city hotel in England.
The Five AA star The Grand, York, scooped the accolade at the 2019 Luxury Lifestyle Magazine Readers’ Travel Awards, based on the views of almost 75,000 readers.
And it is a double celebration for the city, as York beat both Edinburgh and London to be voted Best UK City.
Built in 1906 as the headquarters for the all-powerful North Eastern Railway, The Grand, York is a testament to Edwardian opulence, overlooking the city walls and historic York Minster.
A £15m expansion and refurbishment in 2018 increased its rooms to 207 and earlier this year the hotel opened The Cookery School at the Grand, York.
This state-of-the-art Masterchef-style kitchen, runs workshops, classes and demonstrations throughout the year and has also hosted masterclasses by renowned professional chefs.
In the Best City Hotel category, The Grand, York, was up against stiff competition from top London hotels, including Fleming’s, Corinthia, The Beaumont and Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London.
The top award in the Best UK City Hotel category was given to Belfast’s Grand Central Hotel.
Philip Bolson, general manager at The Grand, York, said the accolade is particularly significant as “it was awarded by the people who matter most – the general public.
“Industry awards are great, too,” he said, “but the hotel industry is first and foremost about customer satisfaction, so awards like this are always very special.”
