Built in the Italiante style

Forecourt of the Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel was built in the Italianate style by the London architect John Whichcord between 1862 and 1864 on the site of Artillery Place which had incorporated the old West Battery House and ammunition ground, as well as Hobdens Royal Baths.

Originally the tallest structure in the city
When it was built it was the tallest structure in Brighton. Contemporary descriptions refer to a “cylopean pile”. The interior had coffee rooms for ladies and gentlemen, two conservatories in an exotic oriental style, a library, billiard and smoking room. In all there were 300 rooms.

Terrorist attack
On 12 October 1984 the hotel was severely damaged by a terrorist bomb planted to assassinate Margaret Thatcher’s Cabinet – in Brighton for the Conservative Party Conference. The hotel has since been meticulously restored with the addition of extra car parking.

Comments about this page

  • After 5 results on Google I finally found information that I actually needed. Thanks!

    By Zubi (09/12/2003)
  • I want to say thank you. Your page has helped contribute to the history section of my college assignment about The Grand Hotel. I study Travel and Tourism and I found your page very helpful with the hardest area of my assignment. Thank you!

    By Kelly (07/12/2004)
  • What a great information website! I had been looking and looking and finally I found something. This has really helped with my homework.

    By Maiya Joi (04/09/2006)
  • Very very useful. This helped a lot with my and my friends’ homework!

    By Jasmine Henderson (04/09/2006)

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.