Huddersfield's George Hotel set to get new lease of life as part of council's £250m Blueprint

Now, the George Hotel in Huddersfield is set to get a new lease of life after it was acquired by Kirklees Council.

The deal, for an undisclosed sum, forms part of the council’s commitment to delivering its £250m Blueprint vision for the town centre.

The grade two-listed hotel, which was built in 1851, was where the meeting that founded the Rugby League in 1895 was held. It closed in January 2013.

When Kirklees Council launched its Huddersfield Blueprint vision in June 2019 it included an ambition to bring the building back into use.

Discussions have been ongoing with the owner of the building and an agreement has now been reached for Kirklees to purchase it.

The council is now exploring a number of different options for the use of the building.

Coun Shabir Pandor, leader of Kirklees Council, said: “When we launched the Huddersfield Blueprint, we said we were committed to get the George Hotel back open and this shows just how serious we are.

“The George Hotel is much more than a building to people in Huddersfield and to Rugby League fans. It’s a proud part of our history and we want to make sure it is also part of our exciting future.

“It wouldn’t feel right for so much investment and regeneration to come to the town centre whilst such a popular building stays closed. So agreeing to purchase it is the right thing to do.

“This is another exciting step forward towards delivering our Blueprint vision.”

Coun Peter McBride, cabinet member for regeneration, added: “The historic significance of this building means this is something we absolutely have to do.

“By purchasing the George Hotel we can make sure it has a permanent place in our plans for Huddersfield town centre.

“It also sits in St George’s Square which is a key entrance to Huddersfield for thousands of people every day using the train station.

“The George Hotel will be part of a revitalised St George’s Square which will include a revamped train station, an improved public space and more of our heritage buildings being brought back into use.

“We’re now in the process of exploring a number of different future uses for the building. We have to take our time to make sure we get this absolutely right.”

Dr Altaf Hussain, a dentist and entrepreneur, bought the hotel in 2013 for £800,000 but it has remained closed since. Last May, it emerged that Dr Hussain had submitted plans to turn the building into a 52-room hotel.

Dr Hussain said: “I’ve agreed to sell the George Hotel to the council as I also want to see this building be part of the town’s future.

“I’ve seen the Huddersfield Blueprint vision and know how serious the council is about bringing this building back into use as part of the plans.

“The George Hotel is such an important building to people of Huddersfield and that’s why I’ve been working hard to get it back open. I’m confident that the council can now take this on and deliver the right use for it.”

Last September, Coun Pandor cautioned over focusing on its 160-year history as a hotel.

He said: “We are not in the business of providing hotels and the council cannot do everything itself, but nothing is off the table.”