UK: Developer Henley is planning a boutique hotel and tea room in Cambridge city centre.
If its plans are approved, the Hobson House building on St Andrew’s Street will be restored and transformed into a luxury hotel.
Key features of Cambridge’s former police and fire station will be preserved, restored and opened up to the public if plans for a 57-key all suite hotel and tea room are given the go ahead.
Hobson House, which was built in 1901, sits on a site associated with the charity founded by Thomas Hobson, a 17th century Cambridge philanthropist.
Since the police station moved in the 1960s, the building has been used mainly as offices, most recently by Cambridge CityCouncil.
Henley’s plans include restoring the building’s original features including the facade, ornate staircase, entrance hall and stain-glass windows. The former drill yard would be opened to the public as a quirky tea room.
Henley will open up Hobson House up on Monday, November 26, to display its plans for the building and give the public a chance to see some of the original features around which the restoration will be focused.
Nassar Khalil, director of hotels and leisure at Henley, said: “Hobson House is a real architectural jewel in the crown of Cambridge city centre. Hidden gems like the ornate entrance hall and staircase, the drill yard and stained-glass windows have effectively been hidden from the public through its use as a police and fire station, and latterly offices. Through our plans to transform it to a boutique luxury hotel and tea room, we are delighted to ensure the key original features of the building will be restored, preserved and finally opened up to the public.
“The restoration will also provide a boost to the local economy. Our plans will create jobs and apprenticeships and deliver a unique hotel model that will add to Cambridge’s hotel offer, invite more extended stays in the city and encourage guests to use neighbouring businesses such as restaurants and bars by forging partnerships with them,” he added.
If the plans are approved, Henley aims to open the hotel by summer 2020.
