A FAMOUS York building is about to have a change of name.

The Royal York Hotel will become Principal York from Tuesday, November 1, as part of a national rebranding exercise, following a massive investment programme.

Richard Mansell, its general manager, said: “The Station Hotel — as it was originally called — has undergone a number of name changes in the course of its 138-year history.

“A multi-million-pound investment in the hotel has restored what was previously a rather tired ‘grande dame’ and given York a beautiful, heritage hotel of which we hope the city will be proud.”

Dr David Fraser, chief executive of York Civic Trust, said: “We have heard about the proposed name change.

York Press:

“We would be much more concerned if there were any physical changes to the historic fabric of the building, and we will continue to monitor planning applications with a view to conserving what is historically important to our city.”

The last time the hotel changed its name was in 2002, when it was called Le Meridien following a merger involving its owners. That change had prompted disapproval from some traditionalists, but the hotel reverted to its more familiar name just two years later.