 It originally opened in 1997 with 122 rooms and was refurbished in 2015 at a cost of £1.2 million.HM Prison Oxford until 1996, the building was converted by Malmaison between 2003 and December 2005, as part of the wider Oxford Castle regeneration project.The 95 rooms are converted prison cells and the hotel retains several original features such as metal doors and walk-ways.