It is the most recognisable historic landmark which greets motorists as they arrive into or leave Leeds via the east side.
The hotel built around a 19th century windmill was recently acquired by Britannia Hotels, from Ramada Jarvis Hotels, and is now called the Britannia Leeds Hotel and has 102 bedrooms.
It stands at the Seacroft junction of the A64 and the A6120 Leeds ring road, at Millgreen View ring road.
Seacroft’s old mill, a landmark for hundreds of years in Leeds, used to stand with its lead crown topper, surrounded by only a few outbuildings and a gamekeeper’s cottage, surrounded by acres of farmland on Whinmoor Common.
The top of it was made by Crossgates plumber Mr Willie Wood, on the instructions of Mr Darcy Wilson, then Squire of Seacroft.
The mill is listed as a building of architectural and historic interest.
It fell into disrepair and it was around 1970 when a hotel group began seeking planning permission. It took several years of wrangling for permission to be granted for the application by the Reo Stakis Organisation.
And it was in 1973 when the Leeds Corporation approved plans for a 40-bed motel incorporating the old windmill, near Seacroft roundabout.
It was a condition of agreement that the old mill was retained, and was successfully incorporated the old stone tower into the design.
The mill tower never had any sails, and was used for grinding corn. But a mystery remains about how the mill was powered.
It first opened as the Stakis Windmill, incorporating a conference centre.
In the late 70s and early 80s there was repeated complaints about noise caused by revellers at the 2am ‘discotheque’ closing time, which disturbed residents from the nearby estate.
Planning permission was granted in 1980 to extend the hotel, with an extra 40 twin rooms granted and 20 more parking spaces.
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