Today’s news in brief – 30/10/23
The Cardiff Capital Region City Deal (CCR) has approved a £9.7m investment from its Strategic Premises Fund to complete the Ty Newport Hotel, located near the M4 corridor. The hotel is part of the Celtic Manor Resort, founded by Welsh entrepreneur Sir Terry Matthews. The hotel will feature 146 beds, a restaurant, bar, meeting facilities, and electric vehicle charging points. The investment aims to support larger conferences at the International Convention Centre Wales (ICCW) and stimulate the local economy by attracting event attendees. The hotel project also focuses on environmental sustainability, replacing gas-powered systems with electric ones and incorporating renewable energy sources. Additionally, the Ty Newport Hotel plans to partner with local educational institutions to provide practical training for hospitality management students.
Beck Hall in Malham, Yorkshire, will become England’s first 100% plant-based hotel starting from December 1, 2023. The hotel, featuring 20 bedrooms, was acquired by Louise and Andy Mackbeth. The menu at Beck Hall is already 50% plant-based and is inspired by the travels of Mr. Hardacre, who established the hotel in the 1930s. The hotel has developed innovative vegan dishes over the past six months. The decision to go fully plant-based is driven by a desire to offer exceptional food and experiences, rather than solely profit. Beck Hall is already highly occupied throughout the year, and this transition represents a calculated risk by the Mackbeth family.
The White Hart Hotel in Lincoln, purchased by Andrew Long in 2022, is set to reopen on November 6, following a six-month refurbishment. The hotel has undergone a comprehensive transformation, with renovated bedrooms and the addition of the Colonnade Cocktail Bar and Lounge, the Gibson Club Bar, and the new Antlers Restaurant. The goal is to establish the White Hart as an elegant and desirable hotel in the region, catering to special occasions and attracting both local residents and visitors. The refurbishment has improved food offerings, menu choices, and cocktail options to enhance the guest experience.
Warner Hotels’ Heythrop Park, a 300-year-old Grade II-listed property, has won The British Institute of Interior Design award for best interiors in the Midlands and East Anglia. The property underwent a £40m transformation after being acquired by Warner Hotels in 2018 and offers 337 bedrooms, lounges, staircases, three restaurants, and two large theatres. The design blends period aesthetics and local heritage with contemporary elements, and it excels in accessibility features. The hotel’s interior designer, DesignLSM, has received several awards for their work, including the LIV Hospitality Design Awards’ History and Heritage Interior Design Award and Luxury Lifestyle Awards’ Best Luxury Hotel Interior Design Award. Simon Thompson, MD of Warner Hotels, expressed delight in the recognition, emphasising the hotel’s blend of historical charm and modern amenities.
