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21
Apr 2021
'We're not giving up on our Harrogate B&B dream'
It's been a difficult year for the many bed and breakfasts that depend on Harrogate's Convention Centre, which has been an NHS Nightingale for the last year.
But the owners of Scotia House on King's Road are now excited about better times ahead.
In the months before covid, South African couple Mark and Gill Church travelled the length and breadth of the UK looking for their perfect location before buying Scotia House, opposite the convention centre.
The couple left careers in marketing and event management to take over the business in December 2019 — but little did they know what would be around the corner.
Instead of a busy conference and tourist season, the convention centre was swiftly turned into a Nightingale hospital in March last year, with the two large oxygen tanks by the Royal Hall a grim reminder of what might have been.
Mr Church said it was a "blessing in disguise" that the Nightingale was never used to treat covid patients.
Not going to run away
Some longstanding hotels nearby shut their doors for good during the pandemic, including The Kimberley Hotel and Alexa House.
But Mr Church said they never thought about selling up and were determined to get to the other side. The hotel will reopen on May 17.
He said:
He called the last 12 months "horrendous" but said they had used the time to find different ways to help the business, including going on courses to better equip them for life as hoteliers.
Read more:
- WATCH: NHS takes down Nightingale hospital in Harrogate
- What has Harrogate council spent its High Street grants on?
Harrogate Borough Council, which owns the convention centre, is working on a £50m plan to upgrade the ageing facility.
The council hopes the investment will help Harrogate better compete with other conference venues across the country.
Mr Church is looking forward to conferences and events finally returning to the town.
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