Gloucester’s first boutique hotel has officially opened its doors today as Hotel Indigo welcomed its first guests at the city’s £107m Forum development.
The 129-room hotel, which forms the centrepiece of the new city-centre scheme, has already attracted significant interest with more than 1,000 bookings made before opening day.
Guests can enjoy a rooftop bar, Crimson Spire, offering panoramic views of Gloucester and its cathedral, as well as the all-day bistro West Window and café Terraé. The development’s striking 44-tonne glass and steel skybridge will also serve as an event space.
The hotel, operated by IHG Hotels & Resorts, takes design inspiration from Gloucester’s history and culture. Rooms reflect themes ranging from the city’s Roman past to the story of Beatrix Potter’s “The Tailor of Gloucester”, alongside references to the historic docks and local festivals.
Hotel Indigo is part of The Forum, a major mixed-use development brought forward by Gloucester City Council and Reef + Partners as part of the wider £200m regeneration of Kings Square, which also includes the University of Gloucestershire’s new city-centre campus.
Councillor Jeremy Hilton, leader of Gloucester City Council, said the hotel would be a “game changer” for the city, helping turn Gloucester into an overnight destination and boosting the local economy.
The Forum development also includes premium office space, residential apartments and new public spaces, aimed at transforming Gloucester’s city centre.