Historic Cotswold hotel reopens after £2m refurbishment

A hotel in Stoud which has played host to royalty and celebrities has reopened after a £2m refurbishment.

The Imperial Hotel has been visited by the likes of the Queen and The Beatles and is one of the best known buildings in the Gloucestershire town.

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

The hotel which first opened in 1863 has been closed for four years. The reopening of the hotel is to create around 40 jobs.

Stephanie Burrows has been in charge of the renovation and is delighted with the results.

She said: “It went way over budget but I think it was worth it when we first took over the hotel it was pretty derelict.

“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 hotel played a vital role 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.”