Chester Grosvenor and Spa
Encyclopedia
Chester Grosvenor and Spa is an hotel in Chester
, England. The Grade II listed building was built between 1863 and 1866 and is owned by the Duke of Westminster
. The long-standing establishment features an on-site restaurant that has been awarded a Michelin star for 19 consecutive years.
, The Mall Chester, Chester Cathedral
, and the ancient city walls
.
. It became the headquarters of the Independent Party, who were the party opposed to the Grosvenor family (later to become the Dukes of Westminster
). In 1815 it was purchased by Robert Grosvenor
, who was at that time Earl Grosvenor (and who later became the 1st Marquess of Westminster). It was then renamed the Grosvenor Hotel, and it became the city's "premier place to stay". While it was in possession of the 1st Marquess' son, Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster
in 1863, this building was demolished.
The building now present on the site, again originally called the Grosvenor Hotel, was built. It was designed by the Chester architect Thomas Mainwaring Penson
and was Penson's last major work. It was completed after his death by his son's firm R. K. Penson & Ritchie. The hotel passed into the estate of the Duke of Westminster when Richard's son, Hugh Grosvenor
, was advanced to 1st Duke of Westminster in 1874. On 10 January 1972, the building was registered as a Grade II listed building.
black-and-white, in the Tudor revival style that is typical of Chester architecture. As a hotel, it is recognised as offering five-star
, luxury accommodation and service. The hotel has 68 guest bedrooms and 12 suites, a fitness centre, a spa, a lounge and bar, boardrooms, a Parisian style family restaurant La Brasserie and a highly-acclaimed restaurant, Simon Radley at the Chester Grosvenor. Formerly known as The Arkle, the name of the restaurant changed in 2008 to reflect the success and expertise of its head chef, Simon Radley
, who first joined the hotel in 1986. In 2011, the restaurant was awarded its 21st consecutive Michelin star. One of only five restaurants in the UK to have retained a star for that length of time, it is also the only restaurant in the north of England to have done so.
Notable guests include Princess Diana
and several Princes of Wales
. Queen Elizabeth II
visited the hotel when it hosted wedding festivities for a daughter of the Grosvenor family.
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
, England. The Grade II listed building was built between 1863 and 1866 and is owned by the Duke of Westminster
Duke of Westminster
The title Duke of Westminster was created by Queen Victoria in 1874 and bestowed upon Hugh Grosvenor, 3rd Marquess of Westminster. The current holder of the title is Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster....
. The long-standing establishment features an on-site restaurant that has been awarded a Michelin star for 19 consecutive years.
Location
Chester Grosvenor and Spa occupies an historic location on Eastgate, in the centre of Chester. It is next to the landmark Eastgate Clock and in close proximity to other notable features of the town, including Grosvenor ParkGrosvenor Park, Chester
Grosvenor Park is a public park in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England . It consists of of land overlooking the River Dee. It is regarded as one of the finest and most complete examples of Victorian parks in the North West of England, if not nationally...
, The Mall Chester, Chester Cathedral
Chester Cathedral
Chester Cathedral is the mother church of the Church of England Diocese of Chester, and is located in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. The cathedral, formerly St Werburgh's abbey church of a Benedictine monastery, is dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
, and the ancient city walls
Chester city walls
.Chester city walls consist of a defensive structure built to protect the city of Chester in Cheshire, England. Their construction was started by the Romans when they established the fortress of Deva Victrix between 70 and 80 AD. It originated with a rampart of earth and turf surmounted by a...
.
History
Before the present building was constructed in 1863–66, the site was occupied first by the pub The Golden Talbot and later by The Royal Hotel. The Golden Talbot was recorded as being "ancient" in its 1751 mention in one of the local weekly newspapers and had been in operation during the reign of Elizabeth I. In 1784, the pub was demolished to make way for The Royal Hotel, built by the politician John CreweJohn Crewe, 1st Baron Crewe
John Crewe, 1st Baron Crewe , of Crewe Hall in Cheshire, was a British politician. He is chiefly remembered for his sponsorship of Crewe's Act of 1782, which barred customs officers and post office officials from voting....
. It became the headquarters of the Independent Party, who were the party opposed to the Grosvenor family (later to become the Dukes of Westminster
Duke of Westminster
The title Duke of Westminster was created by Queen Victoria in 1874 and bestowed upon Hugh Grosvenor, 3rd Marquess of Westminster. The current holder of the title is Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster....
). In 1815 it was purchased by Robert Grosvenor
Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster
Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster, KG was the son of the 1st Earl Grosvenor, whom he succeeded in 1802 as 2nd Earl Grosvenor. He was created Marquess of Westminster in 1831. He was an English Member of Parliament and an ancestor of the modern day Dukes of Westminster...
, who was at that time Earl Grosvenor (and who later became the 1st Marquess of Westminster). It was then renamed the Grosvenor Hotel, and it became the city's "premier place to stay". While it was in possession of the 1st Marquess' son, Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster
Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster
Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster KG, PC , styled Viscount Belgrave from 1802 to 1831 and Earl Belgrave from 1831 to 1845, was an English politician, landowner, property developer and benefactor....
in 1863, this building was demolished.
The building now present on the site, again originally called the Grosvenor Hotel, was built. It was designed by the Chester architect Thomas Mainwaring Penson
Thomas Mainwaring Penson
Thomas Mainwaring Penson was an English surveyor and architect who is credited with pioneering the revival of half-timbered architecture in Chester in the 1850s....
and was Penson's last major work. It was completed after his death by his son's firm R. K. Penson & Ritchie. The hotel passed into the estate of the Duke of Westminster when Richard's son, Hugh Grosvenor
Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster
Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster KG, PC, JP , styled Viscount Belgrave between 1831 and 1845 and Earl Grosvenor between 1845 and 1869 and known as the 3rd Marquess of Westminster between 1869 and 1874, was an English landowner, politician and racehorse owner.He inherited the estate of...
, was advanced to 1st Duke of Westminster in 1874. On 10 January 1972, the building was registered as a Grade II listed building.
Hotel and restaurant
The upper façade of the building is distinctive half-timberedTimber framing
Timber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
black-and-white, in the Tudor revival style that is typical of Chester architecture. As a hotel, it is recognised as offering five-star
Star (classification)
Stars are often used as symbols for classification purposes. They are used by reviewers for ranking things such as movies, TV shows, restaurants, and hotels. For example, one to five stars is commonly employed to categorize hotels.-Restaurant ratings:...
, luxury accommodation and service. The hotel has 68 guest bedrooms and 12 suites, a fitness centre, a spa, a lounge and bar, boardrooms, a Parisian style family restaurant La Brasserie and a highly-acclaimed restaurant, Simon Radley at the Chester Grosvenor. Formerly known as The Arkle, the name of the restaurant changed in 2008 to reflect the success and expertise of its head chef, Simon Radley
Simon Radley
Simon Radley is a British chef. He is executive chef of the restaurant Simon Radley at the Chester Grosvenor, formerly known as The Arkle...
, who first joined the hotel in 1986. In 2011, the restaurant was awarded its 21st consecutive Michelin star. One of only five restaurants in the UK to have retained a star for that length of time, it is also the only restaurant in the north of England to have done so.
Notable guests include Princess Diana
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
and several Princes of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
. Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
visited the hotel when it hosted wedding festivities for a daughter of the Grosvenor family.