The Grand Hotel is an iconic building in Bristol but it has been looking a bit tired and rough around the edges over the past few years.
Mercure took over the 150 year old building in 2015 and last year announced plans to refurbish the hotel which has welcomed guests including Winston Churchill and The Beatles.
The work has now been completed and last week I joined other Bristol bloggers for an exclusive look inside.
The common perception of big hotel chains is that they churn out the same, standard design. Whether you’re in Birmingham or Berlin, it can sometimes be impossible to tell them apart.
But Mercure’s makeover of The Grand could not be further removed from that.
It is now home to bright colours, urban art and a bee-themed restaurant.
The new Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel is an impressive mix of industrial and street design with classy furniture and lighting that wouldn’t look out of place in the trendiest of loft apartments.
Mercure worked with Bristol’s world renowned graffiti festival Upfest to give local artists the chance to let their imagination go wild.
Artist and fashion designer Gemma Compton is the star of the show with her gorgeous butterfly and rose mural that now greets hotel guests in reception.
The celebration of Bristol art continues into the rooms and even the door numbers are super arty.
In Keepers Restaurant, where us bloggers gathered for a warm welcome from the Mercure team and some tasty treats, the quirky bee theme made us smile with hive shaped lights and wall hangings.
Bees won’t just be part of the decoration soon though as the hotel is set to welcome some of their own buzzy friends to produce honey for use in the restaurant.
Sipping a yummy berry infused Purple Rain cocktail, it was great to take in a new, modern and stylish location for an evening drink in one of the city’s oldest and most traditional of buildings.
Big thanks to Lindsay and Josh from the Mercure team for their warm welcome.
Just about to discover the newly refurbished @BristolGrand #Excited😄 #bbthegrand pic.twitter.com/U0lGfp1Yuk
— Lifestyle District (@LStyleDistrict) March 30, 2017
It's lovely to hear how the team @BristolGrand commissioned work from locals artists from @Upfest creating a truly unique decor!#bbthegrand pic.twitter.com/dJlurQfBWg
— Lifestyle District (@LStyleDistrict) March 30, 2017
