Stroud Hotel visited by late queen re-opens after refit

A hotel in Stroud visited by both Queen Elizabeth II and The Beatles has reopened, after being shut for nearly four years.

The Imperial Hotel in Gloucestershire has undergone a £2m refurbishment and been renamed 'The Stroud'.

The Grade II listed property was awarded protection in 2022 to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Creative director, Stephanie Burrows, said: "It went way over budget but I think people enjoy having it back."

In the 1950s, Princess Elizabeth visited Stroud and before catching her train she called in at the Imperial Hotel for lunch.

More than 70 years later, the hotel was one of six places visited by the queen to be awarded protection to mark her Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

"When we came in it was pretty derelict and not in the greatest place," said Ms Burrows.

"It was kind of eerie, there were a couple of drinks left on the bar half-full. It was like people had just upped and left.

"So it was a big clear out with lots of skips."

The much-loved hotel was given Grade II-listed status because of the important part it played in developing the town's tourism trade in the 19th Century.

"I think people still really need that sense of community and somewhere to go," said Ms Burrows.

"We've had people come in who met here and have been together for 40 years or spent a wedding night here, so lots of stories coming from people," said Ms Burrows.

"The Beatles played at the Sub Rooms as well so it would be great to get King Charles along, he's close by isn't he."

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