The Grand Hotel Leicester reopened on 1 February 2026 after a full renovation, as the eighth hotel in Ascott's Unlimited Collection. It has 104 rooms and a first-floor ballroom, the Kings Hall, which the hotel calls the city's largest historic one. It is the only hotel in Leicester built in the 1900s that still operates.
The essentials
Group The Ascott Limited (The Unlimited Collection)
Opening January 2026
Rooms & suites 104 rooms and suites
Segment Premium
Designer Cecil Ogden (original 1898 architect); renovation design team NC
Entry rate From £50 Learn more → The place The hotel stands on Granby Street, a short walk from Leicester railway station. It is a listed building, and Historic England supported work in 2022 to return the entrance and the shopfronts at street level to their original Victorian appearance.
The concept The building dates from the late 1890s. The official listing credits Cecil Ogden and Simpson and Harvey and describes a Franco-German Renaissance style, not Art Deco. Jupiter Hotels, a former operator, credits Ogden and Amos Hall, so the attribution varies by source. The hotel was commissioned by local businessman Orson Wright and has hosted Winston Churchill, the Queen Mother and the King.
Ascott runs it with S Hotels and Resorts, the Thai company, under the Unlimited Collection, whose other hotels are in Dublin, Edinburgh, Vietnam and Singapore. Guests earn Ascott Star Rewards points. Of the 104 individually designed rooms, 2 are grand rooms and 19 premier rooms. One property listing gives 123, so the count differs by source.
The Kings Hall holds up to 300 guests according to the hotel. Its gilt-capped columns and marble were conceived by Wright and designed by Amos Hall.
Dining & wellness O.W. at The Grand, named after founder Orson Wright, is the hotel's restaurant and bar, open from morning to evening. The menu includes afternoon tea, pre-theatre dining and British pies made with local partners, and the bar runs a rotating showcase of local gins.
Our take A listed Victorian building given a full renovation is rarer than a conversion of an office block, and the Kings Hall gives the hotel a function business that most Leicester rivals lack. Rooms start from around £50 in the guide's data, which puts a historic address in reach of ordinary city-break budgets.
Google guest reviews 4.0/5 · 1088 reviews
Stayed here one Friday night in order to go and see The Bo'Weevil Brothers at The International.
Great room with comfy double bed. Good shower in the bathroom. Only thing missing was a mini fridge.
There was only one bath towel, but a quick call to reception and the desk manager was straight up with extra towels.
Nice cocktail bar, if a bit pricey and the young girl didn't seem to know how to make a Martini.
Only £10 for 24 hour parking which lasts till midnight, from the reception desk. But beware the parkinng spaces are extremely small and maneuvering in the car park is difficult.
I am extremely disappointed with my stay and with the way the hotel handled my complaint afterwards.
The issue was not normal “city centre street noise”. I understand that a hotel in a central location may have some outside noise, and in fact I did not find the street itself particularly noisy. The real problem was the extremely loud music from the bar directly below or near my room. The noise was so severe that it caused strong low-frequency vibration inside the room. The walls, floor, furniture, and even the bed were vibrating while I was lying on it. As a result, I could barely sleep the entire night.
I reported this issue to the front desk during the night. The staff told me they would speak to the bar and ask them to turn the music down, but this made no difference at all. When I checked out the next morning, I explained again that I was requesting a refund because of the serious noise and vibration problem. The front desk told me that since I had booked through a third-party platform, I needed to contact the platform and ask them to communicate with the hotel. I specifically confirmed with the staff that I should ask the third-party platform to contact the hotel regarding the refund, and they said yes.
However, after the platform contacted the hotel, I was told that the hotel only agreed to refund 10%. The hotel claimed that because it is located in the city centre, noise is unavoidable, and because the booking was non-refundable, the remaining 90% would be treated as a cancellation penalty. This is completely unacceptable. My complaint was not about ordinary street noise. It was about severe noise and vibration caused by the bar below or near the room, which made it impossible to sleep. Also, when I checked out, the hotel did not clearly tell me that only 10% would be refunded, nor did they explain that 90% would be kept as a so-called cancellation penalty. If they had told me this clearly at the time, I would not have simply accepted it and left.
I have video evidence of the noise and vibration inside the room. The hotel’s location and room facilities may look good, and some staff were polite during check-in, but the noise problem was serious enough to make normal sleep impossible. The way the hotel handled the refund afterwards was very disappointing. I would strongly advise future guests, especially anyone sensitive to noise or needing proper rest, to think carefully before booking this hotel.
Had the best 2 days at The Grand hotel for my daughter’s graduation.
Such a beautiful hotel in the most perfect location as everything was at walking distance . Such a bonus! Staff were so lovely and helpful .we had a family room which was stunning. Breakfast buffet was really nice too. I cant fault it in any way💖thank you for a lovely experience.
We picked this for the location and we’re so happy with the choice. A gorgeous building! Recently renovated and so well done. Everything was so clean and comfortable. The food was delicious. Had dinner and breakfast and it was very good. The staff there are amazing. They are very friendly and make you feel welcome. They are very knowledgeable about the area and have great information about local sites. Lots of little touches that made it special. Personable service, welcome chocolates, in room coffee and tea, very comfortable bed, spacious shower with good water pressure, and soft towels. It was a 5 star hotel with 5 star service. Would definitely stay again.
We genuinely had such a lovely stay at The Grand Hotel Leicester by The Unlimited Collection. From the moment we walked in, the building’s character really stood out the grand staircase and historic features give it a charm you just don’t find in modern budget hotels. The recent refurbishment has clearly had a positive impact, blending the hotel’s historic elegance with fresh, modern finishes that make the whole place feel stylish and well cared for.
Our room was beautifully presented, very clean and incredibly comfortable. The bed was super cosy and we slept brilliantly. We also really appreciated the thoughtful touches tea and coffee making facilities, complimentary toiletries, a powerful shower in the modern en-suite bathroom, fast and reliable Wi-Fi, and a large flat-screen TV to relax in the evening. Everything felt refreshed, well maintained and welcoming.
The location is perfect right in the centre of Leicester and within easy walking distance of the train station, shops and restaurants. The staff were friendly, professional and approachable throughout our stay.
If I had to mention one small improvement, it would be that breakfast service felt a little busy at peak times — but this didn’t take away from what was otherwise a very enjoyable stay.
There are cheaper hotels in the area, but in our opinion this was absolutely worth paying slightly more for. The refurbishment, character, comfort and overall quality really set it apart. We would happily stay here again and highly recommend it
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