New hotel to be created in city centre

Friday 30 July 2010

New hotel to be created in city centre

A new £1.25million hotel is set to be unveiled in the centre of Glasgow.

The Grasshoppers Hotel is being created on the top floor of the Caledonian Chambers building in Union Street.

It will overlook the glass roof of Central Station, have 30 rooms, a restaurant and a bar, and will employ ten staff.

The building, which is owned by Network Rail and was designed by renowned Scots architect James Miller, once housed offices and a neon sign, most famous for showing adverts for Irn-Bru in years gone by, is attached to the side. Owner and Newmarket-based hotelier and entrepreneur Barrie Munn, 67, would not disclose planned room prices but said they will be “above the budget sector”. Mr Munn said he chose the unusual name because it’s “memorable, fresh and lively.” He hopes to create a club-style atmosphere with live music, such as a cello player, in the evenings. He said: “It’s a sort of ‘anti-brand’ hotel. It’s distinctly focused on meeting individual needs, which brands find hard to do.” Scott Taylor, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “The Grasshoppers will be a welcome addition to Glasgow’s accommodation portfolio and its values of style, service and value – with emphasis on the individual – will sit well with the city’s own ethos.” Grasshoppers is just the latest hotel preparing to open in the city. The Grand Central Hotel – formerly the Central hotel – also at Central Station, will be unveiled in September after a £20m revamp. The new £100m citizenM in Renfrew Street will open on August 15, boasting rooms from as little as £50 a night with futuristic features such as the touch screen MoodPad which controls lights, temperature and more. Glasgow will create more than 2500 new hotel beds by 2012, including the five-star £120m, the 160-room Jumeirah Glasgow and the 230-room Jury’s Inn near the SECC.

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