The Glasgow hotel that hosted JFK and The Beatles and why you won't find Maradona's picture on the wall

The award, sponsored by this paper, is part of the Glasgow Business Awards organised by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce with Royal Bank of Scotland as the main sponsor.

It opened its doors in 1883, has hosted some of the most famous names in history, contributed to the modern world as we know it and survived the pandemic - and the Grand Central Hotel is still standing strong.

The iconic building at Glasgow Central Station has been hosting the city's parties, weddings and visitors for close to 140 years and can boast of a VIP clientele like few others.

They adorn the wall as you ascend the Victorian staircase: Frank Sinatra, Billy Connolly, Laurel & Hardy, John F Kennedy.

It's a heritage the Grand Central, a nominee for Glasgow's Favourite Business at the Glasgow Business Awards, is keen to remind new recruits of - though there's one Scotland hero who won't be getting near the wall anytime soon.

Manager Allan Wilson explains: "First and foremost when we do induction we set that tone that we’ve had some of these guests coming through the hotel.

“We’ve had Winston Churchill three times, JFK as a young man having his breakfast in the champagne bar while his father was meeting the survivors of the Athenia ship.

“I think it’s something to be proud of, you feel the character and the history. When we do the induction we say to the team that they’re walking in some of the greatest footsteps of all, whether it be presidents, prime ministers, Diego Maradona or music greats like the Rolling Stones and the Beatles.

Grand Central's wall of famous guests - not including Diego Maradona

“Our general manager is an English gentleman so the picture of Maradona isn’t displayed on the wall!

“I’m sure there are quite a lot of stories but obviously we don’t show and tell. We were very lucky with COP that we had some very key events and guests with that too, who could potentially be future kings of the country.”

The VOCO outlet can also claim a key role in an event which arguably changed the world as we know it.

On May 27, 1927, John Logie Baird sent a television signal 438 miles from London to a room on the Grand Central's fourth floor, the first long-distance TV broadcast in history.

The hotel underwent a refurbishment in 2020, opening again in March the following year, but visitors can still get a sense of that history.

Wilson says: "I think it helps the relationship we had with IHG and our designers. We were very vocal from the start of the process of being refurbed that we would keep the history and nostalgia coming in, just clearing everything away would not be great for the people of the city and certainly the people who come to the hotel.

“We’ve managed to keep a lot of quirky parts of the hotel still within the history of it. For example, the artwork in reception has new modern artwork, but we’ve still got the train station logos and elements of carriages in the front.

The bar at Grand Central Hotel

The Grand Central Hotel

“In the bedrooms, the headboards are similar to the old train carriages of the 60s and 70s, and from that point of view we’ve been very lucky.

“We’ve increased and improved aircon and secondary glazing, however the actual history, the grandeur of the corridors etc, we’ve managed to retain.

"I think the hotel is the heart of the city, it’s right next to the train station with 120,000 people a day going through. We’ve got a real affinity because of the history of the hotel – everyone knows someone that’s been to an event like a wedding or a Christmas party, has stayed in the hotel, has come to the champagne bar, missed a train and come in for a drink. We’re very lucky to have that.

“People like the history, I think there’s a great connection to the city because people are naturally keen to know what is going on and how close we are to the people of Glasgow."

March 2021 was, clearly, not an ideal time for a hotel to re-open its doors but the Grand Central is thriving as tourism begins to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Wilson said: "I think hospitality has shown real resilience first and foremost, whether it’s ourselves or a small bar or restaurant.

“The togetherness that the team have had meant we basically just worked with the ethos that what needs to get done.

“We’ve had strong business levels and pick-up, whether it be meetings and events or bedrooms. I think the real word is resilience and the team have done fantastically at that.

“The recognition in just being put forward for the award hopefully shows that.”

And while it may have hosted JFK and El Diego, it's the connection to Glasgow which Wilson believes makes it one of the city's favourite businesses.

He explained: "We’ve got a real affinity because of the history of the hotel – everyone knows someone that’s been to an event like a wedding or a Christmas party, has stayed in the hotel, has come to the champagne bar, missed a train and come in for a drink. We’re very lucky to have that.

“People make Glasgow and we’re very lucky to be part of that. Nothing can take that away from us.”

The winner of The Glasgow Times Award for Glasgow's Favourite Business will be revealed at the annual Glasgow Business Awards ceremony, taking place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central on Thursday 6 October 2022, with voting opening on Friday September 2.

Place your vote for The Glasgow Times Award for Glasgow's Favourite Business here.