The Grand Hotel Newcastle

When I am not in a hurry, I like to look above the modern shop fronts and admire the old buildings above. However, I've been going to this book shop since I was a child (in the 90s called Thornes and now Blackwells) and didn't notice the grand building above and the sign "Grand Hotel". I looked on the internet and found this grade II listed building, built in 1902, was a former hotel and there are some copies of illustrated postcards with horse and carriage in front online. It was bought by Newcastle university 56 years later. In 2012 it had a multimillion pound makeover to update the building internally and provide modern student accommodation. I must remember to keep looking up!