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About The George Hotel in Lichfield

The George, a family owned and run hotel set right in the heart of the historic city of Lichfield and is a Part of The Webb Hotel Group.

Angela Burns - Chief Executive | Michael Webb - Chairman

The group includes The George Hotel, Lichfield, Moor Hall Hotel & Spa in Sutton Coldfield, The Gables Hotel, near Bristol and The Cathedral Hotel in Lichfield.

The philosophy of personal service and attention to detail has always been the backbone of the businesses and the family ownership gives the group the freedom to continually reinvest to ensure that you receive an exceptional experience whenever you visit. Whether you want to enjoy fine dining, a relaxing stay, the perfect wedding or a business meeting, our collection of properties offers something for everyone. The vast majority of our customers return time after time, and this is the best accolade we could ever have!

Today, the Webb Hotel Group remains very much a hands-on family business with Michael Webb as Chairman, and his daughter Angela Burns as Chief Executive. Third generation Webb family members are also actively involved in the day to day running of the hotels. The family are proud of their family history and the strong sense of values that have driven their success and remain firmly at the heart of the business.

Hotel History

The George Hotel takes its name from St George and in the 19th century the hotel’s sign depicted St George and the Dragon. The earliest reference to The George is made by George Farquhar, the famous dramatist, who stayed there in 1707 whilst quartered as a recruitment officer. It was here in fact that he wrote his plays, “The Recruiting Officer” and “The Beaux Stratagem”; the latter of these was actually written about life at The George itself and characters were based on the family who ran the inn at the time.

The George of the eighteenth century would have been a coaching inn with an archway in the centre through which the coaches passed to reach the inn-yard behind. This would have been blocked in soon after the coaches stopped running and now forms the main entrance to the hotel. The building would have been galleried, and Snape’s map of 1781 shows it as a compact square of buildings around a courtyard – the entrance being on Bird Street.

Over the archway there was a balcony which was used at election times for candidates to address people gathered in the street below. The George was always associated with the Whig faction whilst The Swan opposite was staunchly Tory. The two inns were the headquarters for their respective parties at election times and the post-boys always wore jackets of the appropriate colour: blue for The Swan and buff for The George. The commercial and political rivalry that existed was forcibly expressed; blows were frequently exchanged and in the 1826 election The George had all its front windows smashed.

Inns had many uses at this time. In an age before offices, businessmen used them as meeting places, coroners held inquests in them and official bodies such as turnpike trusts used them for assemblies. They were busy in the evenings as social venues (The George had its Assembly Room), and twenty four hours a day there would be a stream of coaches and private carriages coming and going.

The proprietor between 1800 and 1820 was one Thomas Webb; one of the largest horse-keepers in the Midlands. He supplied horses not only for the coaches and post-chaises running from The George but also for many hostelries in the city. He was a Whig of course, a man of considerable ability who went on to become Mayor of Lichfield. When the railway system was established in 1838, travel by stage coach disappeared and The George was rebuilt and reinvented as an “hotel” rather than an “inn” with provisions for persons to stay for more than a day or two. In January 1865, a Lodge of Freemasons (St John’s Lodge of Lichfield) was founded and met on a monthly basis, in what is now called The Garrick Suite, for 100 years. Under private ownership, the manager was always invited to join the Lodge, but when taken over by a group, the masons were instructed to quit and they re-established themselves at The Tamworth Masonic Rooms.

In the summer of 2000 The George Hotel was purchased by Michael Webb – some coincidence. He just has to be the great, great grandson of the above Thomas Webb! Under Mr Webb’s ownership, The George has been restored to its former glory - all the existing bedrooms have been completely refurbished and 9 new bedrooms have been added, making a total of 45. The delightful Regency Garrick Suite is now used for meetings, wedding receptions and banquets and the adjoining private bar has proved to be a great asset. Michael Webb also owns the Cathedral Hotel on Beacon Street in Lichfield, the 4 star Moor Hall Hotel & Spa in Sutton Coldfield which boasts 82 bedrooms, 8 conference rooms and a Leisure Club and Spa and The Gables Hotel in Falfield, near Bristol.

At the heart of this privately owned group of companies is the philosophy of personal service and attention to detail which means always putting the customer first.

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