Former Granville Hotel, Ramsgate

In 2020, we were commissioned by Heritage Lab to undertake a feasibility study for the restoration and conversion of the derelict Grade II listed former public spaces within Granville House to create an events and co-working facility, offering employment and opportunities for start up businesses.

The refurbishment of the historic former Granville Bars and Banqueting Rooms and Granville House located in Ramsgate’s East Cliff. The proposal will adapt the building for community and commercial events spaces, cafe, studios and co-working spaces. Funded by the Architectural Heritage Fund and commissioned by the Heritage Lab CIC. The proposal envisions a lively events and working space with a cafe/restaurant that forms a central meeting space for visitors. The flexibility of the space allows for events to be held both across the ground floor and in individual rooms.

Proposals for the ground floor seek to create a variety of spaces which can be managed with minimal staff with visibility into spaces from bar/reception area. The primary entrances lead to the cafe/events space boasting sea views, attached to this is a co-working/events area which can change function depending on demands.

The basement will be accessed by a new spiral staircase and is envisioned with a series of flexible co-working spaces and informal meeting rooms, enabling organisations to work, share ideas and innovate. The lower kitchen will facilitate food preparation and a cleaning area which will serve the first floor spaces. The basement will also serve as staff changing rooms for larger events. Three self contained studios at the front will also provide artists with private spaces to develop work.

As for the history of the Granville hotel; until it became apparent that buyers could not be secured, the building was originally designed to be a terrace of large townhouses with some additional facilities. This change lead to the inclusion of “a banquet room, reception rooms and an entrance hall in addition to a tunnel to connect to the railway station on the seafront, gardens [and], a complex of Turkish Baths…”. These ambitious plans contributed to Pugin’s bankruptcy, leading to to the repossession by Coutts bank and in 1872 it was sold once again. It then began running as a hotel, particularly housing guests visiting Ramsgate by train on the weekends. Aside from temporarily acting as a hospital for Canadian soldiers during the First World War, the Granville was used as a prestigious hotel through to the 1900s. After a series of incidents damaged the building, certain sections were remodelled into private apartments and by 2004 the site ran fully as a block of apartments. This proposal aims to restore the property whilst giving opportunity for local start-up businesses in the creative economy to meet and operate as well as the chance for residencies for creative people to stay and work in Ramsgate.

Status: Currently re-negotiations are on-going by Heritage Lab CIC for commencement of the project.