BRIGHTON’S best-known historic hotel will soon be looking grand when it gets a multi-million pound restoration.

Scaffolding will be going up along the front of The Grand as part of a 12-month project to return the 152-year-old seafront hotel to its prime.

It will be the first major refurbishment of the hotel’s exterior since 2003 and much more extensive than the paint job carried out 13 years ago.

Manager Andrew Mosley said the investment would return the hotel to its "former glory".

Work on restoring the building's façade will cost up to £3 million while the hotel’s owners are spending £250,000 on architectural lighting.

All 46 sea-facing rooms will receive new windows and extended balconies and work will also be carried out on improving insulation.

The latest works are in addition to ongoing work fitting air conditioning to all rooms expected to be completed in July at a cost of £3 million.

Mr Mosley said the costs of the work did not factor in the loss of income – 20 rooms at a time will be out-of-action during the air conditioning fitting.

The restoration is the latest development in a wider multi-million pound investment programme over the past five years.

In July The Grand unveiled a refurbishment of its Victoria terrace, lounge and bar while previous owners the De Vere group spent around £7 million refurbishing it's 201 bedrooms and 11 conference rooms in preparation for the sale of the hotel.

The Grand will remain open throughout though there will be changes in room pricing when certain rooms lose their sea views behind extensive scaffolding - which will take up to six weeks to install and four weeks to bring down.

It will first go up on the eastern wing where it is expected to remain until the spring before work will then move to the remaining part of the exterior.

The scaffolding will be covered in a giant plastic covering allowing workmen to continue though all weather to speed up the work's completion.

Mr Mosley said: “This is a very significant investment in The Grand in two areas that have really needed doing for a considerable length of time.

“We are very pleased that our owners are able to come along and within two to three years of buying The Grand invest this amount of money in order to bring it back to its former glory.

“This will be a real restoration not just a redecoration.

“We have worked hard to ensure that the building is in good shape but it is a 152-year-old building so it’s always going to be an ongoing investment.

“There are always business improvements possible and I’m sure there will be more to come.”