New future for hall coming together
Progress at Raithwaite Hall w112714b
DEVELOPERS might still have to put the finishing touches to the £30m Raithwaite Hall project near Sandsend but already the team behind it is considering what to do next.
The inside of the hotel, which will have 45 rooms, is starting to take shape now.
The tiles have been laid in the luxury pool, the ensuite bathrooms are being plumbed in and chandeliers will soon be lighting up the first five star hotel to be created on the Yorkshire coast.
But already the Skelwith Group is looking at ways to progress the development – making it as appealing to as many different clientele as possible.
“You see the hill up there?” says Ben Pilgrim, head of communications, pointing towards the vast greenery that surrounds Raithwaite Hall.
“We are in talks with the development team to see if there is the potential to put more facilities in.
“We have 84 acres in total, the actual development is very small. We are looking at the whole estate.”
Some of those facilities could include nature trails, walks, cycle paths and running tracks and even a helipad within the grounds.
And as soon as the main hotel opens it will be on to the next phase of the development – the Keep, which will have 28 bedrooms and luxury accommodation for pampered pooches and ten, two, three and four bedroomed self-catering cottages.
Mr Pilgrim added: “While the hotel will always be the focal point, we have permission for another building and the Keep – we will look at starting that next year.”
In the meantime there will be plenty of facilities to keep visitors entertained when the hotel opens in autumn.
There is a spa with several treatment rooms for groups, couples or individuals, a restaurant, function rooms, a roof-top terrace, the pool and an impressive Presidential suite.
There have been up to 100 men working on the site at any one time and while the fixtures and fittings at the hotel will be modern, stylish and high end luxury the history and charm of the old Raithwaite Hall has by no means been forgotten.
Mr Pilgrim said: “In essence, a lot of it is new build obviously but from the grounds and the character of the estate we still have that heritage.
“It has been quite tricky to work around the building but it will enhance the hotel when it is open.”
And when the hotel does open its doors the Skelwith Group hopes that local people will enjoy the facilities just as much as visitors coming to Whitby, Sandsend and the surrounding area.
Richard Mansell, general manager, said: “We have had interest in bookings already, people have been saying they have been crying out for a facility like this.
“People have had to go 45 minutes away and after last November and December no-one wants to be driving that distance for Christmas parties.
“We don’t want to concentrate on one particular market.
“It is important we make this a product that Whitby and the local area are proud of and feel that they can use – the spa rooms and the bar is open to everybody.
“There is not one niche we want to home in on, we feel there are six or seven markets from holidaymakers to spa breaks, golfers and people who want to get away from the city for the weekend.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Whitby
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 1 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
spy
Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 04:05 PMWill the Skelwith Group go bust before this is finished? Have a google around about the company.
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.