Historic hotel's re-opening date 'uncertain'

George Hotel, Huddersfield

The re-opening date of a Grade II-listed hotel is still uncertain after a renovation project's completion was pushed back several times.

The George Hotel in Huddersfield is currently being refurbished and is due to become a 91-room Radisson RED boutique venue.

Kirklees Council originally said the hotel was meant to be finished this year, before development partner Queensberry revised the date to summer 2025.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked the council for an update on the current status of the project but the authority declined to confirm a new opening date.

Strategic director for growth and regeneration, David Shepherd, said: “We’re passionate about restoring the George Hotel to its former glory and are excited to see the next phases of construction begin.

“As always with any listed building, it’s a complex restoration project and we are working with contractors on these specialist works; we will be keeping residents updated with progress on the next phase in due course.’’

A three-storey block will be demolished and a new structure built, though the historic facade will be preserved.

The council bought the building in 2020, and initially planned to convert it into a museum about rugby league, as the sport was founded in the hotel in 1895.

It was later decided that this use would not be financially viable.