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15
Apr
Harrogate's ex-Tourist Information Centre goes on the market
The search to find tenants for Harrogate‘s former Tourist Information Centre has begun.
'To Let' signs were put up on Friday outside the building on Crescent Road, which is part of the Victorian Royal Baths complex.
The rental asking price is £40,000 a year, according to the website of Align Chartered Surveyors, which is marketing the 2,394 square foot property on behalf of North Yorkshire Council.
The website also says the property has a rateable value of £23,500 and a £24,300 service charge, which includes maintenance, waste collection and cleaning costs.
It says:
The Stray Ferret reported in February the council had decided to relocate the Tourist Information Centre in the nearby Royal Pump Room Museum.
Harrogate's new tourist information service consists of leaflets.
It said in a report the move would enable it to save costs and generate income from the Royal Baths, which has been dogged by low investment returns since the council paid £9.5 million for it in 2018.
The report said the number of visitors to the Tourist Information Centre fell from 135,000 pre-covid in 2019 to 68,000 last year, mainly due to people seeking information online.
It added it was "important to maintain access to the service to support tourism within the area and to provide services for those who are unable or prefer not to use digital services".
The report said relocation would "improve the tourist information service" and have “minimal” impact on customers.
However, the service has been downgraded to just a desk with leaflets of mainly council services within the Royal Pump Room Museum, which has prompted concern among local businesses.
It means three of the five commercial unites within the Royal Baths are vacant.
Two are occupied by the JD Wetherspoon pub and the Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant but the former Viper Rooms nightclub and Potting Shed bar remain empty, even though the council said in February it had accepted an offer on the Viper Rooms.
Read more:
- What are the options for Harrogate Convention Centre?
- Local business raises concern about new Harrogate Tourist Information Centre
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