Calls for clarity over future of landmark Royal Hotel

UNCERTAINTY: Hull’s iconic Royal Hotel

EXCLUSIVE by Rick Lyon, Co-Editor

City leaders have called on the owners of Hull’s Royal Hotel to set out their plans for the landmark building after its use to accommodate asylum seekers comes to an end.

Hull City Council leader Mike Ross and Visit Hull and East Yorkshire (VHEY) chair Chris Blacksell have written jointly to Britannia Hotels seeking clarity over the future of the prominent city centre hotel.

It follows confirmation that the Royal Hotel, next to Paragon Interchange, will no longer be used by the Home Office to provide temporary accommodation for people while their asylum applications are considered.

In their letter to Britannia Hotels, Councillor Ross and Mr Blacksell highlight that Hull was named as one of the Top 25 places in the world to visit in 2026 by National Geographic and stress the importance of having sufficient hotel accommodation to support visitors and businesses operating within the visitor economy.

They add: “The Royal Hotel is a landmark hotel in the city, that has supported Hull’s visitor economy and local jobs for decades, while celebrating its royal connection to Queen Victoria, who stayed there in 1854.

“It is also renowned for its association with Philip Larkin, whose poem Friday Night in the Royal Station Hotel cemented the building’s place in Hull's and England’s literary and cultural heritage.”

The letter asks Britannia to provide an update on its current plans, with representatives from both the city council and VHEY offering to meet the company to discuss the hotel’s future.

Coun Ross told The Hull Story there was a need to avoid prolonged uncertainty over such a prominent site.

He said: “This is a prime hotel location in the city centre. We desperately need quality hotels in the city, particularly so close to Paragon Interchange.

“We want to be attracting people to come and stay in the city centre. This is really important.

“It’s also important that the owners set out their intentions pretty quickly, so it doesn’t drag on and create uncertainty around the future of the site.”

Mr Blacksell said: “The Royal Hotel is an important building in a fantastic location and has been part of Hull’s visitor offer for generations. As we continue to attract more people to Hull and East Yorkshire, having a strong range of good-quality accommodation is crucial.

“We felt it was important to ask Britannia what its intentions are now that the current use of the hotel is coming to an end. This is a prominent gateway into the city and a building with real history and significance, so naturally there will be a great deal of interest in what happens next.

“We would welcome the opportunity to work constructively with Britannia as it considers the hotel’s future.”

Britannia Hotels confirmed it is considering the future of the building but has yet to reveal what it intends to do with it.

A spokesperson for Britannia Hotels Group said: “The Royal Hotel Hull’s role in providing temporary asylum accommodation is coming to an end as the Government progresses plans to reduce its hotel occupancy programmes.

“We recognise there will be considerable interest locally in the hotel’s future. We are currently reviewing our options while giving due consideration to local perspectives, and we will share further updates once our plans have been finalised.”