Bradford's Victoria Hotel is to be transformed into a city centre jewel of "understated luxury" and fine food, its new owners have pledged.

The hotel, which has been re-named the Great Victoria, is undergoing a multi-million pound facelift.

The hotel has been bought by the fast-growing Tomahawk Group formed 18 months ago.

The Great Victoria is the company's third acquisition after the Woodlands in Leeds and Aston Hall in Sheffield as it aims to create a ten-strong hotel chain across the North of England within a decade.

Tomahawk, which employs 200 people at the three venues, is to create a new group headquarters on the top floor of the hotel which is to be fully refurbished into offices and penthouse accommodation if the firm can secure listed building planning approval from Bradford Council.

Basement areas are also being brought back to use and two new kitchens are being installed.

Work has almost been completed to revitalise the bar area. Work on other floors is due to begin in the New Year.

Tomahawk directors Rob Foulston and Tom Horsfall told the Telegraph & Argus Bradford had been deliberately selected as the location for its third hotel and its headquarters.

"We looked at other northern cities and identified it as somewhere with little city centre competition from high-class hotels or restaurants," said Mr Foulston.

"We want the city to realise that we didn't buy the hotel because it was for sale - we targeted the city.

"We talked to Bradford Centre Regeneration at an early stage and talked about our plans and they were very excited about a luxury hotel group coming into Bradford because it fitted with the messages they were sending out."

Mr Horsfall said good food and wine would be at the core of the new enterprise and head chef Paul Sowdon, who has overseen the refurbishment of the other hotels and reinvigorated the cuisine, will spearhead changes in Bradford.

The pair also revealed that just as its Leeds hotel has a Bentley car theme for its downstairs rooms and the Sheffield venture an Aston Martin motif, the Great Victoria, too, would be "subtly" associated with a top British car marque.