Historic venue gets a facelift When hospitality locked down, Leicester’s City Rooms was given a new lease of life thanks to a complete renovation of the Grade I listed building. The paint’s still fresh, but Director Kiran Parmar tells us they are back and excited WORDS BY EMILY MILLER
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ospitality was one of the sectors hardest hit during the lockdowns of the pandemic – and for events and boutique hotel The City Rooms, it came at a time when the venue was thriving. However, being resourceful and adaptable, Director Kiran Parmar and team set about giving the luxury venue a welcome facelift. “We wanted to refresh every room and clean the entire façade and the time we were closed provided the ideal opportunity to do all the things we had wanted to do but were restricted to do before,” he said. The refurbishment – including the addition of plenty of greenery, luxury light fittings, and soft furnishings as well as a 200-year overdue freshen up of the outside grand façade – has meant that the doors are not only reopen but reopening in style. “We wanted to ensure that the refurbishment was fitting for the historical building, but so that it also felt like a fresh start too.
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“It has always been a glamorous place to gather, so we have kept that luxury but with a contemporary feel. We are really happy with how it looks and can’t wait for everyone to see it and enjoy it for themselves,” Kiran told us. As the historic doors open once more with a new look and a new lease of life, the timing couldn’t be more fitting with gatherings back in full swing. The luxury boutique venue, which was built in 1792, has four bedrooms for guests and a grand ballroom which spans the whole first floor – and the nine-metre-high ceilings give any event the wow factor. Seating up to 200 guests, it can be used for a wedding ceremony, wedding breakfast and reception, giving an intimate feel to the day. Corporate events can be held in a similar way and, as people come together again, the venue provides a city centre destination for attendees from across the UK. In addition to the ballroom,
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GLAMOROUS PLACE TO GATHER, SO WE HAVE KEPT THAT LUXURY BUT WITH A CONTEMPORARY FEEL
there are sophisticated bar areas as well as two further suites and a dining room for more intimate gatherings. “Our event co-ordinators are experienced and passionate about being able to get back to doing the work that they love and can accommodate a flexible arrangement for any event or celebration. “The City Rooms has come back to life and all the hard work we have put into the touches that make all the difference has made us excited for guests to enjoy the building once again,” Kiran closes. Experience the stunning makeover as life’s events start again at The City Rooms, find out more at thecityrooms.co.uk.
