Brighton's Grand Hotel auctions furniture

A hotel in Brighton has auctioned some of its furniture ahead of a major refurbishment.

All 201 guest bedrooms at the Grand Hotel will be upgraded from January following the sale of the establishment to Fattal Group, owner of Leonardo Hotels UK and Ireland, earlier this year.

“Everything’s up for offer that one would find in a Grand Hotel bedroom - from beds and lamps to drapery and mirrors,” the auctioneers said.

The first of a series of auctions took place on Tuesday through Pro Auction.

The highest price paid for an item was £320 for a selection of ceiling to floor cotton drapes.

The cheapest item was a mahogany-framed mirror that sold for £7.

In total, more than £8,450 was spent at the first phase of the auction, which featured furniture including beds, bedside tables, wardrobes, desks and chairs.

Subsequent sales will occur every five weeks, starting in March.

The Grand Hotel, which opened in 1864, was bombed by the IRA during the Conservative Party conference in 1984.

It also featured in BBC show Only Fools and Horses and the film Quadrophenia.

The hotel in Kings Road was previously renovated in 2013 and 2019.

Before the auction. Simon Rose, Pro Auction managing director, said he was thrilled to “offer the chance to own a part of the Grand Hotel’s opulence”.

“Prior to the commencement of the new design, you have the chance to capture the essence of luxury by acquiring pieces of the hotel's furniture at a fraction of the cost,” he said.

"This is an exceptional opportunity to acquire furniture from one of the city's most iconic hotels."

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