CB Richard Ellis Hotels is delighted to announce that it has been chosen by King’s Cross Central as adviser and agent for the historic Great Northern Hotel.

The hotel forms the gateway to King’s Cross Central, the largest central London site in single ownership to be masterplanned and developed for 150 years.

The Great Northern Hotel, which has circa 90 bedrooms, was built in 1855 and is the oldest purpose built hotel in central London. The hotel will link with a new piazza to be created between King's Cross and St Pancras International Stations.

Commenting on the development, Chris Rouse, Senior Director, CBRE Hotels said: “with Eurostar connections to Europe, National Express services throughout the UK and the Northern, Victoria, Hammersmith and City, Piccadilly, Metropolitan and Circle underground lines this hotel will be the “best connected” in the UK.”

CBRE Hotels has been instructed to select a developer/operator/tenant on a long leasehold basis. Renovation works are currently underway to the external and basement level of the hotel which are anticipated to complete in the final quarter of 2009. It is proposed that the operator will be on site by mid to late 2010 in order to undertake the refurbishment and renovation. The Great Northern Hotel is expected to begin trading pre-Olympics in 2012.

Roger Madelin of King’s Cross Central said: “The Great Northern Hotel is a fantastic opportunity. With CBRE Hotels on board we are confident that we will find an operator who will make the most out of this unique location and complement the other first class occupiers we have signed up at King’s Cross Central. “