The Grand York

Due to family commitments, we can’t realistically go overseas and we can reach York by train easily. The Grand has become our safe space and refuge when other things in life are piling up. From the first arrival, we can relax. We are greeted, like all customers, like a friend by the concierge team who take our bags while we check in. If you don’t know York they are knowledgeable about events in the area. The check-in team are all warm and friendly and the process is simple and straightforward. I think we have been coming since 2017 and try to go twice a year 2-4 nights per trip. We ask for our favourite room when we book so it’s likely to be available when we arrive (it’s a secret, but ours is on the 2nd floor). The 1906 bar has an array of cocktails that can be made, my favourite being the vodka martini as well as draught drinks, wines & spirits. Note it has high backed leather chairs and settees, but be mindful the settees are lower than you think! The Rise restaurant is where they have breakfast which includes a la carte choices – the Grand French Toast is my favourite. We find the service excellent in the Rise, which has an outdoor terrace with seating. Afternoon Tea is special, and realistically needs to be booked and was yummy, but we didn’t have it this time. The quality of the food in the evening is second to none. The hotel has other high-end choices like the Legacy. We stay in one of the executive rooms, but have been in Grand Heritage rooms and the penthouse. We have found all of them to be excellent, but there are extras in terms of both space and goodies for the more expensive rooms. When we’ve been knackered, we’ve had both in room-dining as well as the food in the 1906 bar which has been lovely and pretty speedy - and frankly can cost less than going out in and around York. We’re here to chill-out and dress accordingly. Others are like us, some are better dressed, but our experience is that we find everyone is treated equally. We’re already booked in for next May 2026. The hotel is currently undergoing some changes to the pool & spa area, so they are unavailable (as of July 2025) with completion around May 2026. Alternative arrangements are available for treatments, but not for the pool.

This was our second visit here, because we loved it so much the first time we had high expectations. Unfortunately after being charged twice for our accommodation on check-in , I never received an invoice so after checking my online banking app I discovered I’d been overcharged £800. If I hadn’t checked my app this wouldn’t have been picked up, a very poor mistake for a high quality hotel. After querying it I was told I’d have to wait 3-4 days for a refund, we weren’t happy to say the least. That aside we had another lovely stay at The Grand. The restaurant staff were very attentive and the guys at concierge are great at their job, so friendly & helpful. This incident wouldn’t put us of returning but it certainly left a bad taste and left us quite stressed afterwards.

I had a truly wonderful stay at The Grand. As a disabled guest, I was incredibly impressed by how thoughtfully and thoroughly the team supported me throughout my visit. From before I arrived to when I checked out, every detail was handled with care and professionalism. A heartfelt thank you to the concierge team and especially to Dylan, who went above and beyond to help coordinate everything I needed. Their support made my stay smooth, comfortable, and stress-free. The Grand’s commitment to accessibility and guest care really stood out. I highly recommend to anyone looking for a welcoming and inclusive experience. Thank you again to all the staff for making my stay so memorable!

A wonderful 2 night stay. We were greeted by Ian and Nigel who exemplify the old English fine art of hospitality- thank you both. Terrific location for an easy 10 min walk into the city centre to explore the old pubs, cathedral and of course the Shambles.

My partner and I got married on Friday 25th July and had booked a weekend in York to celebrate, booking The Grand to mark the occasion in supposed luxury and style. The Grand had sent an email in the week preceding our stay asking if they could personalise our stay in any way. We responded by giving my wife's name and asking if she could be referred to as this before receiving a reply saying that wouldn't be a problem and a note had been made that this was what we wanted. Unfortunately, our simple request was never carried out at any point, ruining our decision to stay at The Grand and spoiling our weekend. Now I appreciate it would be impossible for every staff memeber to learn the names of every guest. However for a 5* hotel and one who had told me they could and would facilitate this is some way surely it wouldnt have been difficult to facilitate such a straightforward request in a few small ways. Surely a note could have been put into their system so when we checked in it came up alongside the booking for the girls on reception to see and call my wife by her name. When we got to our room a card had been written to 'The *****' congratulating us on our marriage, again ignoring our request for my wife's name to be used. On the two occasions we went for breakfast, where the room number and name of the guests are printed out for the seating staff, how difficult would it have been to have put our specifically requested name to have been put into the system. In total, facilitating my request in the above ways would surely have taken about 5 minutes effort, if that. THAT is why we were paying a premium for a 5* experience, that attention to detail; therefore it was utterly deflating and disheartening that a supposed 5* hotel couldn't, didn't and wouldn't carry out our simple request at any point, despite having assured me they would an effort to do so and meant from the second we checked-in we felt ignored and unvalued and the card we then opened upon unpacking in our room felt like a real kick in the teeth. Overall our stay in The York put a real dampener on our wedding weekend. They had ONE JOB to do and for a hotel of their reputation to have agreed to try to meet it then made not even a minimal effort to do so was rude and obnoxious. I simply wish we hadn't had to learn this lesson regarding The York over our wedding weekend!