City of York planners have approved the rebranding of a top hotel.

New signage has been approved for The Principal Hotel on Station Road, which will be transformed into The Milner, York.

The name is after station foreman William Milner who died in 1942 when he entered a blazing station building to gain the supplies during the notorious Baedecker Raid, posthumously earning the King’s commendation for gallantry. A memorial to him exists today at the railway station.

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In addition, as previously reported, the name of the hotel’s food and beverage outlets will also be changed – from The Refectory to Peachey’s Bar & Grill and from The Chapter Bar to The Swollen Gambler.

Recommending approval, a report by council planning staff says the plans, which were amended during the approval process, “introduces a modern approach to the building which is intended to illustrate the public functions available to the establishment.”

The report also said: “The proposed works to the building frontage and external replacement to the building and grounds are considered to have justification and not adversely affect the character or cause harm to the significance of the listed building or wider Central Historic Core Conservation Area.”

The hotel is planning events at the end of October to celebrate the rebranding and highlights its facilities and services. As part of the rebranding, the hotel has received more than £2m of improvements.