The Great Northern Hotel Furore

The Peterborough Evening Telegraph started a furore in the city with its leading article in lasts Tuesdays paper. It reported on the proposed ‘Station Quarter’ development proposal by Halcrow, the firm employed to do the planning of the development. The brief implies that the Great Northern Hotel would need to be demolished to create space for all the proposed development.
This hotel has been standing for 150 years through various owners and two World Wars. The main part of the building still retains much of its original structure designed in 1849 by Lincoln architect, Henry Goddard. It was built by Mr FW Costar for The great Northern Railway at a cost of £2500 and it opened on April 1st 1852, the Great Northern Hotel is a truly classic ‘Railway Hotel’ with all the elegance and charm of the Victorian period.

1914 Soldiers assembly for War at the station in front of the Great Northern Hotel. and the Hotel today

More than a century and half later, £3,000,000 extensive restoration and expansion projects have ensured that the spacious and light rooms have been preserved, as well as additional banqueting and conference facilities made available. The restaurant and the cosy, comfortable lounge open onto the attractive gardens, which surround the hotel providing a tranquil, relaxing environment. A stature of the late Duke Ellington the legendary jazz musician by Jonathan Dimbleby graces the gardens. The walls and corridors of the hotel is home to an amazing eclectic collection of art work as well as a private gallery of art housed in the old bakery of the hotel.
The hotel’s owner Mr Peter Boizot actually lives in the hotel. A local man whose world wide entrepreneurial enterprises made him a millionaire has been a benefactor to many city projects. Amongst these are the Posh football club, the Cathedral, and Flag Fen.
The angry protest letters poured into the Telegraph offices for the next few days including protests from the local MP, the ex PM, the longest serving city councilor, the Bishop and the Peterborough Civic Society. It seems many people in Peterborough are determined that enough of Peterborough important architect has gone and the Great Northern Hotel is one too many.

There have been many famous people stay in the Hotel over the years and the comedian Ernie Wise held his wedding reception at the hotel.

I was privileged to have been given a tour of the hotel and a viewing of Mr Boizot private art collection just a few months ago and I too believe that it cannot possibly be considered for demolition. Mr Boizot has made a wonderful job of restoring the fabric of the old part of the building to its Victorian splendor.

SO HANDS OFF THE GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL