Bespoke Hotels announced the closure date, stating the hotel will continue its usual operations until then. The management company explained that the closure decision was made following the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) above the hotel's function suites. According to Bespoke Hotels, the conference suites were closed after the discovery of RAAC during recent surveys, with all other public areas of the hotel and the car park unaffected and continuing to operate as normal.
The hotel building dates back to 1865, and Bespoke Hotels has been managing it since 2015. Staff have reacted emotionally to the news, with a staff member describing the hotel team as heartbroken. Key unknowns include what will happen to the building after the hotel closes in September 2026, the extent of the RAAC discovered above the function suites, and what support is being provided to affected staff members.