Telegraph is in demand
The former headquarters of the Coventry Telegraph newspaper, now transformed into a luxury boutique hotel, welcomed the public on Wednesday, 14 April, after the completion of a two-year £18 million investment project.
Guests are being allowed to visit the hotel’s rooftop bar – and more than 800 people made bookings, adhering to the “rule of six,” within the first few hours of management’s announcement of its plans. The bar which is covered and heated will open from Wednesday through to Sunday every week.
The Corporation Street-based hotel was set to open last year, but Coronavirus lockdowns and the Government’s Tier system meant that was unable to happen. Now it is open for bookings from 17 May.
Birmingham Press Club vice-president John Lamb, whose book, “Telegraph People,” (www.takahepublishing.co.uk; amazon.co.uk) recalls the characters he knew during his time as a journalist at the newspaper, said: “It’s marvellous to see new life being breathed into such a well-loved building in the heart of Coventry.
“The hotel is a much-needed addition to the city centre and provides an echo of the days when evening newspapers like the Telegraph were a part of the fabric of the cities they served.
“The building has been refurbished as a top-class hotel, with bars and restaurant, and many features of newspaper life have been included so that the heritage of a great newspaper in its print heyday is not forgotten.”
Amy Windsor, the Telegraph Hotel’s general manager, said: “We are thrilled that we will soon be fully operational. Coventry is yearning for a touch of glamour and it will be great to see people going out to enjoy themselves.
“The fact that we can open the rooftop bar in April means that people will get a small sample of what we can offer, before being able to give the fully experience in May. Lockdown has really heightened anticipation and our guests won’t be disappointed.”
The Telegraph Hotel, created by Complex Development Projects, features 88 individually designed air-conditioned bedrooms including loft style penthouse suites on two levels. The hotel’s most luxurious room is the Lord Iliffe Suite – named after the family who started and until recently owned the newspaper – which includes its own hot tub and terrace.
Conferencing, weddings and events are well catered for with the function space capable of accommodating up to 160 guests across a range of layouts. There is also the spectacular Winter Garden – which is a private, glazed indoor terrace only accessible from the 11 bedrooms that surround it.
The hotel will be operated by Bespoke Hotels, the largest independent hotel company in the UK. For further information about the Telegraph Hotel or to book a stay or meal visit www.telegraph-hotel.com
