Glamorous history of hotel to royalty and the stars to be captured in print

STAFF at a 130-year-old landmark hotel in the centre of Glasgow are appealing for stories, pictures and objects from days gone by for research into a new book charting the history of the building.

The book, about the Grand Central Hotel, will bring together details of all of the hotel's famous guests with pictures as well as stories of former staff members, regular guests and diners.

Built in 1883, the former Central Hotel, located above the city's Central train station is steeped in a rich and glamorous history.

But after the company running it collapsed in 2009, it was given a 20 million overhaul by new owners Principal Hayley and reopened a year ago. General manager Laurie Nichol, who is heading a team working to gather as much information as possible on the history of the site, said: "The Central Hotel was Glasgow's best-loved hotel and we feel it's only right that the public should be represented in the story of its history - we are hoping that lots of people will come forward with their fond memories whether they worked at the hotel, got married at the hotel or were regular guests or diners at the original Malmaison restaurant"

The hotel, once known as the place to see and be seen in Scotland's biggest city, has counted A-list stars including Cary Grant, Fred Astaire, Vivien Leigh, John F Kennedy, Frank Sinatra, Laurel & Hardy, Roy Rogers and Trigger and even the Queen amongst its famous guests.