The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London will officially open in May 2011, following a £150m renovation by Manhattan Loft Corporation (MLC) in conjunction with London and Continental Railways.

The original hotel - The Midland Grand Hotel - was designed and built by architect Sir George Gilbert Scott and opened on 5 May 1873. The red-brick building, featuring high Victorian Gothic architecture at its most dramatic, was saved from demolition in the 1960s following a protest led by former Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman. The hotel's interior has been restored to its former glory, with many of the original areas considered to be of particular historical importance having been retained. These include what has been referred to as the most majestic staircase in England, with windows measuring over 50ft (15m) in height and crowned by an elaborate vaulted ceiling; gold-leaf ceilings; ornate wall murals and its sweeping forecourt off the Euston Road.

The 245-room property will consist of two parts - the historic St Pancras Chambers, which will house 38 spacious Victorian bedroom suites, and Barlow House, a newly created 120,000sq ft (11,000sq m) extension featuring guestrooms boasting original artwork and contemporary design. Dining options - revisiting the glamour of the Victorian era - will include The Booking Office Bar & Restaurant, re-created in the original ticket office, and the celebrity chef restaurant and bar, occupying the original entrance hall. Other facilities on offer are to be a 350-capacity ballroom, a private club, a barber's shop and a luxury spa.

The hotel's opening will mark the completion of the regeneration of St Pancras International Station, now home to the Eurostar rail service to Paris and Brussels. Tina Edmundson, senior vice president lifestyle brands for Marriott International's Renaissance Hotels said: "With its fascinating history and dramatic architecture, I cannot imagine a property that captivates the imagination more than St Pancras and we are thrilled to welcome it into the Renaissance family."

Harry Handelsman, owner and CEO of MLC added: "After more than 10 years of meticulous hard work, we have now restored this most historic building to its former glory, giving it a new lease of life." Established in 1992, MLC pioneered loft living in London and has regenerated both inner city and fashionable established areas. It has increasingly become more involved in mixed-use, hotel and office developments.

Image: Przemysław Sakrajda