Historic George unveils major revamp

Historic George unveils major revamp

Colchester’s historic George Hotel reopens its doors today (MAY 28th, 2021) following a monumental £10m renovation.

A hive of activity for more than 500 years, the historic inn closed at the end of July 2019 to undergo a complete refurbishment and vital restoration work.

Surya Hotels has unveiled a series of stunning photographs showcasing its recently renovated, magnificent interior which includes a large open plan lounge with cosy log burners, an extended dining room, a Moroccan-style, partially covered secret courtyard and artist’s impression of a Victorian-inspired, eclectic afternoon tea room titled T at The George. (opening Summer 2021)

The George Hotel’s restaurant has a long term association with culinary excellence, however, the restaurant is returning with a superior food offering as it set sights on becoming Colchester’s ultimate dining destination.Last week Surya Hotels revealed some exciting news from the kitchen, announcing that Award-winning chef Aaron Skerrit, who has worked at quality establishments such as Gordon Ramsay Holdings and more recently as Head Chef at Milsoms Hotels & Restaurants, was consulting on the new menu. He will oversee the food offering of the venue’s stylish brasserie, featuring excellent à la carte dishes and daily specials served from midday to 9pm.

Designer touches across the hotel include luxury Sanderson fabrics, designer fabric upholstered headboards and bespoke lighting from Northern Lights, with the overall concept brought together by Sudbury-based interiors specialists Amor Interiors. A partnership with high end audio brand Bang & Olufsen has seen discrete and powerful designer sound systems blended throughout the interior offering seamless, superior sound quality.

Natural wood flooring, mixed with mosaic tiles and subtle soft furnishings, against scattered, bold Brunswick green walls, add an elegant finishing touch to the newly renovated space. Meanwhile, the new lounge features cosy sofas, ornamental log burners, designer wallpapers and chic soft furnishings.

Licensed prints by award winning artist Alexandra Gallagher are visible throughout the hotel. The British artist, whose works celebrate the surreal and sublime, exhibits and sells internationally with the likes of Saatchi. Her imaginative works explore the realms of memory, dreams and fantasy.’

Meanwhile Award-winning local artist Lucy Tiffney was commissioned to paint a stunning mural behind the reception desk. The artist, who has over 70K followers on Instagram, is renowned for her unique, fresh, colourful and happy designs and has titled the bespoke work ‘Jaipur Sky’.

Connoisseurs of afternoon tea are also in for a treat with the launch of T at The George (opening Summer 2021) which will be serving up a luxuriously chic afternoon tea, in sumptuous, arty surroundings inspired by London’s finest teahouses. An array of beautiful handmade and quirky cakes, fine artisan teas (served in bespoke, locally made teapots) and a matching Champagne and cocktail list has all been carefully curated to ensure the vintage tearoom becomes Colchester’s premier destination for a spot of afternoon tea with friends.

Highlights of the renovation across the bedrooms include the addition of 7 spacious in-town suites featuring Emperor Beds and up to 50 inch smart TVs. The remaining rooms are a mix of heritage doubles, twins and single rooms all featuring luxury king-size Hypnos beds as standard, as well as comfortable arm-chairs and work stations with access to high speed, complimentary WiFi, interactive 43” wall mounted Smart televisions (with Netflix) and modern bathrooms and shower suites.

An architectural report into the George site, published in July 2019, revealed just how ‘nationally rare’ the building is, with Architectural Historian Leigh Alston stating: ‘The greatest significance of The George is the extent to which it illustrates the scale and complexity of medieval inns in the heart of a major town. The great majority of commercial buildings of this kind were entirely rebuilt in the 16th century or later, and even fragmentary examples of the 14th and 15th centuries are nationally rare’.

Many of the hotel’s important historical features have been preserved from woodwork and beams dating back more than 600 years to the hotel’s elegant Georgianised Victorian sash windows. Behind the hotel’s Georgian façade lies a timber-framed building which likely dates from the second half of the 14th century. The first known reference to the property as an inn occurs in 1494, although the hotel’s extensive cellars are likely older and feature the ruins of an ancient Roman gravel pavement – a chilling reminder of Queen Boudicca’s rampage that burned Roman Colchester to the ground in AD60.

The exterior has been painted a classic, light sage green to meet historical guidelines for the Grade II* listed property.

In January 2017, Harwich-based developer Flying Trade Group, behind the Surya Hotels brand, announced plans for the refurbishment and expansion of the George Hotel site. Plans included the complete refurbishment of the 47 bedroom George Hotel and the conversion of nearby St Nicholas House into a brand new affiliated 44 bedroom hotel. St Nicholas Hotel opened its door in December 2018, almost doubling the High Street rooms available to 91.

The Grade II* listed George Hotel was in great need of modernisation, however, renovation work required the utmost care to protect the hotel's rich history.

FTG CEO Suki Dulai said: "The George is a beautiful and nationally rare building and it is incredibly exciting to be opening its doors once again.

“We feel greatly privileged to have been tasked with bringing this historic site into the 21st Century while respecting its amazing heritage.

“Whilst we have brought the hotel back up to date with modern comforts our focus has always been to retain the charm and ambience of this beautiful hotel and preserve the historic atmosphere of the building. Despite unexpected set backs with the pandemic and the refurbishment going well over budget, and schedule, we have remained committed to getting this project spot on – funding the excess without cutting any corners. It has been a painstaking project but we are incredibly proud to have played a part in returning this magnificent site to its former glory and can’t wait to welcome our loyal customers back.”

He added: “We have not made any major changes to the fundamental layout of the property, because we are limited by the building’s historic nature, however, we have certainly added a wow factor with décor and furnishings and greatly improved modern comforts throughout. A significant part of the project has been the re-wiring and re-plumbing of the entire hotel.

"We have exposed the great history of The George, so customers can feel and appreciate the warmth and depth of its past, while also enjoying the comforts and convenience of modern life, from air-conditioning to WiFi and cappuccino." Surya Hotels has worked closely with historians, local government and a team of designers, restorers, joiners and specialist contractors throughout the renovation process.

Suki said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the teams involved for their hard work and commitment during, what has been, a tough year for hospitality. They have done an amazing job and we can’t wait to see hospitality businesses booming again in Colchester.

“We also want to thank our customers for their patience and keen interest in this project. We have been amazed at how very supportive the community has been while we carry out this vital work and have also been inspired by the extraordinary resilience of our industry to keep investing and aiming high.”

The hotel will once again start taking bookings for stays and dining in the restaurant from May 28th, 2021. First come, first serve casual dining will also be available in the bar, lounge and courtyard area.

To keep up to date with the latest news follow The George’s Instagram accounts: @thegeorgecolchester and @teaatthegeorge

FTG continue to invest heavily in Colchester with The George project along with St Nicholas House, Claudius Gateway and One Castle Park, with an emphasis on making the most of the town's rich history.

• FTG’s Surya Hotels portfolio features 13 hotels across the UK, including The George, Colchester, Great Hallingbury Manor and the Kingscliff Hotels in Essex, the Duke's Head in Norfolk and The Mill Hotel in Suffolk. It also owns the Dragonfly hotel portfolio, including the Colchester site. The majority of its characterful hotels are boutique in style, while the Dragonfly portfolio is the group’s affordable, quality hotel range.
• The majority of Surya Hotels are set amid East Anglia's top tourist hotspots, from quaint market towns to historic high streets, all ideal for exploring the surrounding villages, countryside and coast. Two further Surya Hotels - The Hog's Back Hotel & Spa, Farnham and The Thatchers, Guildford - are located in Surrey, providing the perfect base to explore some of the UK's leading attractions, including Ascot, Thorpe Park, Legoland and Chessington World of Adventures.