Bristol Guildhall set to be turned into luxury hotel after years of delays

The historic Grade II*-listed building was damaged by fire in March 2020

Plans to transform Bristol’s historic Guildhall into a five-star luxury hotel are poised to move forward after years of setbacks. Developers are seeking listed building consent from the city council to remove asbestos from the former courtroom, which is earmarked to become a bar for guests and the public.

The scheme was initially approved to convert the property into a hotel back in 2013, but it was devastated by fire in March 2020.

More than 50 firefighters battled the blaze, yet the roof of the historic Grade II*-listed building, which sits on Broad Street and Small Street, caved in as flames tore through it.

A notice on the website for the forthcoming Hotel Gotham indicated it is now expected to open later than originally planned, early next year.

The venue will feature 75 bedrooms, a restaurant and a rooftop terrace bar.

In fresh planning documents lodged with Bristol City Council, the developers’ consultants stated that external works were already covered by existing permissions, and that the latest application concerned internal works only, which would ‘not affect the setting or significance of the surrounding buildings, or the wider conservation area’.

They noted that despite technical surveys carried out prior to construction work, the building had ‘continued to yield ‘surprises’, including previously unrecorded alterations.

“Investigations of the plaster linings through service holes revealed that the upper walls were finished with an asbestos reinforced plaster, requiring removal before any work within the room could proceed to ensure the safety of workers and the public,” the consultants said.

“The proposed works to replaster the former courtroom will not impact on the street scene, or other buildings within the setting and do not require planning permission.

“As they affect the internal fabric of Grade II*-listed building, they do require listed building consent.

“The proposed works are confined to the former courtroom and concern the plaster finishes and linings of the walls above the timber panelling, benching, and doors. The work will require removal of no historic fabric.”

The consultants said the courtroom ranked amongst the most significant spaces within the Guildhall, and would be restored to active use as a hotel bar after falling into a prolonged state of disrepair.

The site traces its origins back to the 13th century and underwent substantial reconstruction during the 1840s, emerging as a gothic revival-style building.

It functioned as the city’s crown court for a considerable number of years, with the basement having served as a prison.