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In pictures: Great Northern Hotel is back in business
THE historic Great Northern Hotel was officially back in business today (Monday) after a three-month closure for a multi-million pound revamp.
THE historic Great Northern Hotel was officially back in business today (Monday) after a three-month closure for a multi-million pound revamp.The 157-year-old building in Station Approach, Peterborough, has been dogged by speculation about its future after former owners, Mistvalley Ltd, plunged into financial crisis more than seven months ago.
That collapse triggered the hotel's sale to its current owners, Boddleson SA, of Switzerland, which then hired management company Cre8 to take on the day-to-day running of the business.
But within weeks Cre8 itself had collapsed, leading to the axing of 40 staff and leaving exasperated businessman Colin Hill, consultant for the owners, with the stark choice of demolishing the building or shutting it down for an urgently needed refurbishment.
Mr Hill said: "It looks fantastic now and I hope people will be really pleased with what we have done.
"We had planned to spend 2 million on the refurbishment but there has been so much work to do the costs have risen to about 3 million."
Mr Hill is also consultant for Peterborough United Holdings, which owns the Posh football ground in London Road, Peterborough.
He added: "I never wanted to be a hotelier but I am beginning to enjoy it.
"We will be offering a high standard of service at a competitive rate and it will be up to local people to decide if they want to use it. I think it will be successful.
"While major works are finished I still expect the builders will be here for a minimum of six months."
The revamp has seen the hotel's interior stripped and new electrics and plumbing fitted throughout. All the 40 bedrooms and 20 other rooms including conference areas, lounges and bars have been fitted with plush new carpets, floorings and curtains and there is new, stylish decor throughout.
The hotel's main entrance has been transformed with the new focal point being a restored revolving door and a customer friendly reception area.
A few chandeliers in the main dining room, called Carriages, are the only reminder of the previous owners.
Hotel director Lindsey Blewett said: "We have gutted the hotel. Except for a few chandeliers we haven't kept anything. Everything else got thrown out.
"The refurbishment has been a huge challenge and we have been working around the clock since we closed to get it ready.
"We held a preview party last week and our guests told us how impressed they were with the changes."
She said the hotel is now employing 40 members of staff, including 14 people who had previously worked for the hotel, and all had spent the last week training and getting to know their way around before the official opening today.
Chairman of Peterborough Civic Society Peter Lee said he was delighted by news of the refit and said the hotel had a promising future.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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