A HISTORIC town centre landmark has completed a £2m transformation by gaining a new identity.

Owners of the Pack Horse Hotel in Bradshawgate have announced that the hotel will be known as The Grosvenor Hotel from next month.

The hotel is owned by Sottish-based hotel and leisure group Macdonald Hotels.

Since purchasing it in June last year the group has invested more than £2m.

Major changes inside the Pack Horse have included the new colonial style restaurant Shawgates and the traditional Irish bar O'Leary's, which was opened earlier this year by Jack Charlton.

General manager of the Pack Horse, Chris Greaves, said: "We are delighted that planning permission has been granted for The Grosvenor as we feel this new name will reflect the new image.

"Having spent £2m on the inside we felt that this should also reflect the outer appearance, all the time ensuring that we echo the Macdonald Hotels traditional high standards - value for money and a welcome to warm the weariest of travellers."

The name change officially comes into operation on October 1.

The Pack Horse Hotel has been a well known landmark since it was built in 1906.

Macdonald Hotels own 21 hotels, incorporating 1,284 bedrooms and manage another 44 hotels under management contracts.

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