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02
Oct
What is happening to the empty units in Harrogate’s Royal Baths?
Three prime commercial units in Harrogate’s Royal Baths have been vacant for considerable amounts of time.
North Yorkshire County Council paid £9.5 million for the Victorian grade two listed building in 2018.
North Yorkshire Council, which succeeded the county council last year, now estimates the building to be worth £7 million — representing a £2.5 million hit for taxpayers.
This loss of value, along with consistently poor commercial investment returns, led to the Royal Baths being branded an “under-performing trophy asset” in 2021.
The current forecasted return is just 1.85%. The next lowest forecasted return in the council’s commercial property portfolio is industrial land in Harrogate, which is expected to yield 4.04%.
Three of the five commercial unites have been vacant for some time. The Potting Shed closed in 2019; the Viper Rooms shut suddenly in November 2022 and the former tourist information centre has stood empty since the council announced in February this year it was relocating the service into the nearby Royal Pump Room Museum.
The Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant and The Winter Gardens, owned by J D Wethersoon, occupy the other two commercial units in the complex.
The Stray Ferret has regularly sought updates on the vacant units from the council, which has frequently indicated the Viper Rooms and the Potting Shed are on the verge of being let. In February it said it had accepted an offer on the Viper Rooms.
We asked the council why the units still remained empty and why it appeared unable to secure tenants. We also asked what were the chances of any of the units being let by Christmas.
A spokesperson responded:
Unit 3 (former Potting Shed) is now let. The tenant’s licencing application has been approved and they are in the process of carrying out modifications to the unit to enable the business to open.
Unit 1 (former viper rooms) is under offer. The unit is being cleared of some of the last remaining fixtures and fittings before the new lease will complete.
The former tourist information centre remains on the market. The level of interest has been reasonable and offers will be considered in the near future.
We will continue to seek updates on the units.
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