Cornwall Council have approved the sale of Old County Hall to St Michael’s Hotel & Spa owner, Nigel Carpenter, this week. The sale is subject to a satisfactory planning consent being obtained.
Old County Hall was originally designed in 1890 by TB Silcock for the County Council and is a grand, Grade 2 listed building, constructed of local materials. St Michael’s Hotel will retain the historic building and restore its distinctive and historic original features, whilst adding luxury and style to create a new 4 star deluxe flagship spa hotel for Truro and the County.
Much of the ground floor of the building will become a destination spa with eight treatment rooms, beauty salon, large hydrotherapy pool with relaxation areas, steam rooms, saunas, fitness suite as well as a stylish patisserie and café.
The beautiful old debating chamber will become an 80-seater brasserie with bar and lounges nearby. There will also be extensive meeting, conference and function facilities with new gardens and landscaping .
Old County Hall will include approximately 40 bedrooms, including some spectacular suites. The Silcock Suite, named after the building’s architect, will gaze out across the cathedral and the whole of Truro. There will also be 20 new spacious long stay suites.
Nigel Carpenter, owner of St Michaels Hotel & Spa in Falmouth, who has conceived the Truro Spa Hotel, said: “I am delighted and honoured to have the opportunity to convert this wonderful, historic building into a flagship hotel for Truro. It will provide a much needed facility for the City which will help fuel the growth of our capital City. Its location encourages a low carbon footprint with visitors being able to arrive at the main train station, just 200 metres away.”
The new Truro Spa Hotel is expected to open its doors in 2014.