This has been a long-time coming. It’s been over 15 years since the historic Guildhall and former courthouse closed its doors. Plans to transform the Grade II* listed building into a hotel were originally announced in 2013, but—following a devastating fire in 2020—work on the new Hotel Gotham Bristol wouldn’t begin until 2023.
The new luxury hotel on Broad Street was due to open in mid-2024, delayed to autumn in 2025, but now looks to open in early 2026. It will join Bespoke Hotels’ Gotham Collection, alongside hotels in Manchester and Newcastle, boasting 75 bedrooms, a restaurant, spa and even a rooftop terrace bar.
This means the imposing 19th-century building looks to be not only the number one destination for visitors to the city, but also a central hub for Bristol’s nightlife to locals and tourists alike. Described as “an escape, a multisensory experience, and above all, a place to have fun.”
Hotel owners, Bespoke Hotels, previously said: “The Guildhall is a very special site in Bristol – it is listed and incredibly imposing – but it has been closed since 2010, and it is time for this grand old building to be brought back to life and contribute fully to Bristol’s visitor scene and nightlife.”
Guests should expect somewhere “glitzy, ambitious, unapologetically opulent” from the Gotham brand, with other hotels known for their gothic decor. Don’t expect a cheap sleep either. In the Manchester hotel, rooms start at around £200 a night right now, while in Newcastle, you can grab something closer to around £130. We should learn more about Bristol soon.
To learn more about the Gotham Hotel Bristol, head here.