YORK'S Grange hotel has been a landmark in the city for more than 30 years.
It was opened back in 1990 by Jeremy and Vivien Cassel - who brought the Regency townhouse, which dates back to 1840, back to life.
In an interview with The Press to mark The Grange's 25th anniversary back in 2015, the couple recalled the uphill struggle they faced to make a go of the building, which had latterly been used as a homeless hostel.
"It was in a terrible state," said Vivien, recalling their first visit. "There was a dead pigeon lying on the stairs. People were scared to walk past outside in case they were struck by a bottle being thrown from the windows. It was rough."
But the couple, who had three young children at the time, were undeterred. They ploughed on, taking 18 months to convert the building into the smart, English-country-retreat-in-the-city feel that marked the hotel out - and earned it a listing in the Sunday Times Magazine top 100 hotels in the world in 2009.
The hotel is back in the news this week - it has new owners, and a new name. It will reopen in December as No.1 - the latest boutique hotel of family chain GuestHouse hotels. It will have 39 rooms, two suites, a private dining room, bar and restaurant and spa treatment rooms.
READ MORE: First peek: Inside former Grange hotel - with new name and look - opening soon
The Grange hotel was well loved for its restaurants, which underwent several makeovers over the years.
It had its share of famous faces too. In 1999 a young chef named Jamie Oliver was a guest - meeting press to launch his first cook book, The Naked Chef. We wonder what became of him!
Author Matt Haig used the hotel also to launch his bestseller in York - How To Stop Time, in 2017.
One of our favourite archive photos of the hotel dates from 2014 and shows the Tour de France peloton passing in front of the hotel as it heads through Clifton and out of town.
The Grange was famous also for its Christmas tree, which towered proudly through the central stairwell of the building. Our photo today dates from 2012 and shows the then general manager, Steven Hodgkinson, admiring the 19-feet tree.
The tree came from the Castle Howard Estate, and was a real focal point. It took four men to carry it into the hotel and a team of three to position it for decorating, which alone took half a day's work!
Many lovely events were staged at the hotel over the years, from fashion shows to literary lunches.
And for many York couples, The Grange, will have a special place in their hearts - it was where they got married.
You can share your memories of the hotel in our Facebook nostalgia group, Why We Love York - Memories. Click here, to join today.
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