A Zoom talk by Tim Mars – booking details below.

Formerly Stroud’s leading hotel, the Imperial was designed in 1863 by its greatest architect, Benjamin Bucknall. Yet it is one of only two of his buildings in the district not to be listed. A key component of the civic space in front of the station, it now stands boarded-up and forlorn, the first thing to greet passengers off the train.

Yet this was until very recently a successful hotel, with good reviews and particular praise for its friendly staff and Thai food. The Imperial has now been boarded up for more than a year following the expiry of a sublease. The main lease expired this month and it is believed the building has been returned to the freeholder. It does not appear to be being marketed.

What is the future for this archetypal nineteenth century railway hotel, one of the finest buildings in the town centre—where the Beatles once stayed, Princess Elizabeth met civic dignitaries and signed the visitors’ book, and the Berni brothers brought their mass-market version of fine dining to Stroud? Tim’s talk will explore some of the options.

For more information click here.   To  book see details below:

Booking:  You are invited to this fifth talk of the Stroud Civic Society 2020-2021 season. Please note you will need to register in advance for this meeting – simply click on this link and fill in the details requested:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpcO-uqT0vGdEEmw_agGd1vTtv6CFmvcsp