Hotel is a sad loss
AFTER reading your article regarding the flats at the former Grand Hotel (The Herald, September 21) I think I have seen it all now.
Since when has a kitchen leading on to a dining area, leading on to a living area, (with odours from said kitchen permeating upstairs to the open gallery and bedrooms) been considered a luxurious penthouse?
Back in the 70s I rented out similar apartments with the same views in a house designed by Foulston, but at a fraction of the cost, even allowing for inflation.
I worked for two summers at the very elegant Grand Hotel and this open-plan flat bears no comparison for style and luxury.
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In my opinion The Grand should have remained the best-sited hotel in Plymouth. What a sad loss for Plymouth.
TED WHITEHEAD
Yelverton
Comments
by Dan_Spartan
Thursday, September 27 2012, 2:37PM
“When I viewed some of these apartments when the first few show homes were available, I was shocked at the low / cheap quality.
I can remember one of the apartments we would have purchased but the price was way off what its realistically worth. Off the top of my head it was flat 19 at approx £550k. It has a sea view with a huge balcony. The two bedrooms around the back were small and one had a built in wardrobe, when we looked at it further it was re-using the space from an original wardrobe from the turn of the century and you could not actually fit a clothes hanger in there and I mentioned this to the in-house estate agent and they were also surprised.
Then I looked at the kitchen a little closer to find it was cheap chipboard with partial plastic fittings, there is no luxury in that and I even mentioned this at the time. The open plan, kitchen / living / dining is way to big and disproportionate to the size of the dwelling and not very well laid out for a prestige sea facing apartment with large balcony.
I do feel they are all overpriced by at least 30% and some serious interest would be achieved if the prices were dropped 20%-30%
I must admit the original show-room is very nice though.
(I am not a rival estate agent flaming, I am simply stating my opinion as a member of the public.)”
by anglo_dutch
Thursday, September 27 2012, 1:40PM
“It is a pity that James Brent's hotel group couldn't have rescued it like he did with Argyle.
My last visit to Plymouth last year left me more disillusioned than previous visits. Many of the grand houses , eg Citadel road etc., allowed to deteriorate, shabby. Is there no department in the council that can force owner occupiers or landlords to upkeep their properties?
I know that money is always tight and nobody wants to pay council tax but the council should get the basics right. Many grand schemes/projects that always run over budget but the basics of a tidy, well kept, city creates the necessary feel good factor and pride. This makes the citizens proud and their behaviour improves.”