A state-of-the-nation look at modern Britain through the lens of a lasting emblem of grandeur, and decline

‘Today there is no one alive who remembers what it felt like when Great Britain was the richest country in the world. But there is a way to access that feeling. You just walk along the seafront of the medium-sized coastal town of Scarborough, and look up.’

Hotel Britannia explores the story of modern Britain through the iconic Grand Hotel in Scarborough, Britain’s first seaside resort. It charts the hotel's journey from symbol of unprecedented wealth and power to flashpoint in Britain’s nostalgia-ridden culture wars. And it dives into the Grand’s past and present, interviewing historians, Reform campaigners and Afghan asylum seekers, local characters and celebrities – even working at the Grand as a cleaner – in search of what made Britain great, and what might make us great again.

In a stylish blend of social history and memoir, Rowlatt brings to light the intertwined destinies of a seaside community and its cherished architectural gem, now in the hands of 'Britain's worst rated hotel chain' (Which?). What can this decaying icon tell us about who we were, and who we are? The story she uncovers is as much about our present as our past.

This insightful tale of class, regional identity, and belonging is both a provocative look at our social history and, against all odds, a story of optimism and pride.