£20m hotel launch held up by bad weather

The scheme to transform the historic former railway headquarters in Station Rise into the luxury Cedar Court Grand Hotel and Spa had been earmarked for an official opening on Monday, April 26.

However, the date has now been pushed back to Friday, May 7, and the worst winter for more than 30 years has been blamed for the delay.

The freezing weather held up work with problems getting hold of deliveries, and this has now had a knock-on effect.

Consultations with English Heritage about work on the Grade II listed building are also understood to have contributed to the revised timescale.

The general manager of The Grand, Andrew Coney, said: "Because detail is so essential to a five star hotel, we just weren't prepared to take any risks by rushing the opening.

"But even now, The Grand is starting to take on its final look - the top two floors are now finished and the parquet flooring in the meeting rooms has been restored to its original appearance by specialist polishers."

A team of 126 builders is working on the project to create the 107-bedroom hotel in the former base of the North Eastern Railway Company.

Wakefield-based Acropolis Hotels Ltd, is marketing The Grand as a prized asset of York's multi-million pound tourism industry.

The hotel, which expected to create up to 160 jobs, will be the company's flagship operation. The firm currently offers four-star facilities at its other sites in Harrogate, Huddersfield, Bradford and Wakefield.

While a fifth-floor penthouse suite in The Grand overlooking York Minster will cost up to 600 a night, other rooms will start at 150 a night.