[08/10/2010] This long article was written on the re-opening of the iconic Grand Central in September 2010. The "127-year old building", a"landmark" in the city, has had a "£20 million refurbishment". It is located in the centre of Glasgow right beside the Central Station.
The history of the hotel is recalled through the memories of two former employees, who saw not just the "elite of Glasgow" but also world-famous stars in its "post-war heyday". Its sad decline is also charted until it was closed in 2009, "its glory days ... a distant memory".
The hotel is notable for its size, at "350,000 square feet" it is three times bigger than most 200-room hotels. Bedrooms are "enormous" and public rooms "very, very big". The renovation has uncovered "beautiful" marble floors, and "intricate" cornicing, and restored ceilings to their original height. This first stage has renovated four floors of bedrooms and 21 meeting rooms. "Modern facilities and technology" have been added, as well as "lavish" decorations: gold leaf and a "huge" chandelier to the ceiling of the champagne bar, and rooms furnished in "heather, gold, silver and red".
The owners hope that the hotel's "stature" and "splendour" will win back its place as "one of the leading hotels" in the city.
This review is an interpretation of the above mentioned author
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