In today’s Urbandoned video, we take a look inside the abandoned Chesterfield Hotel, located
in the centre of the Derbyshire town.
The building has been shuttered since 2015 when it’s owner’s went bust.
Having lasted since the 19th century, the vacant complex boasts many old features and
leisure facilities, making it an interesting walkthrough as we search it’s large interior.
Join us as we explore the property to see what remains.
In our last episode, we asked the question, ‘Would you like to see more underground
sites, such as drains and mines?’
We had various responses but selected this one from Peter who would like to see these
sorts of locations featured on the channel, but advises us to be careful when going underground.
This is very important to us and we’d be sure to take the necessary precautions to
be safe and we will get some more below street level documentaries out soon.
This week we are asking to hear some of your experiences at the former Chesterfield hotel?
We are interested to learn about the building more as there is limited information online.
Let us know to possibly feature in our next video.
With it’s former title still positioned in various places across the building, it
wasn’t difficult to locate Chesterfield Hotel as we drove around the town centre.
Previously known as the Station Hotel, the property was built in 1877 and was one of
the town’s longest running businesses before closure a few years ago.
It’s prominent stature with roads surrounding it made us pay close attention to onlooking
passerby’s as we darted to the open access point.
Making it inside unseen, we began scouting through the massive site to
see what we could find.
With many newer sections added to the hotel during it’s century and a half in use, it
was very confusing to wander through without aid.
Many spaces were extremely repetitive in the upper floors due to their being only bedrooms
for guests.
Currently, it is marketed as a 73-bedroomed property with extensive function and leisure
facilities, such as a swimming pool, gym and a large car park prime for development for
a sum of around £1.25 million.
We hoped we would discover some of the promised leisure regions soon.
We were surprised not to see any squatters residing in some of the clean rooms we checked.
However, earlier in our visit, we spotted a man walking down the corridor from us so
we left that area of the hotel, as we weren’t sure what his purposes were.
When the hotel’s owning company went bust in 2015, it closed its doors after more than
130 years in business.
Two years later, a developer bought the space for £900,000 spending up to £300,000 on
repair work, probably some of which we just saw.
As the structure continually declined in condition, the refurbishment prices reached a total too
high for the new owner, hence the abandonment of the renovation prospects.
Since then, locals have had the freedom to steal anything expensive like items or copper
wiring and vandalise the respected building to a poor state.
Progressing to the ground level of the hotel, we found that much more was left with each
reception and bar stocked up with equipment.
There was a lot to look through and the architecture seemed to vary from modern to old in every
room we entered.
The monetary waste due to the property’s demise is very apparent here, with so many belongings
and electronics intact, and limited damage due to regular sealing of the complex.
One of the oldest rooms across the whole site, the ballroom contained grand design with intricate
coves and huge, decorated chandeliers that would have overlooked guests dancing in time
that is now forgotten.
It is such a shame that a space as ornate as this is neglected in complete darkness,
hiding the work that was put into it’s construction.
This segment of the hotel was another bar, but arguably the best of the bunch.
Again, the boarded windows failed to allow much light inside, ruining the colourful carpet
and polished Greek styles that would have been admired in the past.
Following a look at the leisure side of the structure, we then headed downwards to attempt
to seek out the pool.
Although at first, we only discovered this creepy statue, soon we sighted something very
telling of it's location.
Back upstairs, we ended up in the fitness region of the building, with signage pointing
us in the right direction of the baths.
Despite being a relatively straightforward swimming pool, it was impressive to see how
the hotel squashed it in to it’s old building.
Looking at it’s empty pit now, you could imagine visitors enjoying themselves in the
family welcoming setting.
After hearing some kids entering the hotel above us, we quickly headed towards the gym
that apparently neighboured the baths.
On route, we caught glimpse of the male and female changing rooms.
We decided to conclude our visit to Chesterfield Hotel after spending a few hours within.
There was a slight unease in the air with the simplicity of access and the fact we had
noticed two groups of people lurking about internally, so we figured it would be smart
to leave.
There are no plans to convert the property again, but it would more than likely result
in student accommodation or flats.
Whether the historic structure would be maintained or flattened is up to the council, as it isn’t listed.
Maybe the expansive site will find use in the future, but as for now, daily police checks
and upped security are the only changes we have heard about since visiting last year.
The hotel remains out of ownership.
Here are some of our photographs taken at the abandoned hotel.
If you like the look of them, check out our Instagram page in the description where we
post images from our explores months before they are seen on YouTube.
Thanks for watching!
Remember to comment in regards to the question asked earlier in the video.
See you next time!