The Alexa House guest house on Ripon Road has been sold and is now expected to be converted into a home.

Sandra Doherty, the owner, said the Victorian property had been on the market for just five days before a buyer was found. It was sold for an undisclosed sum.

Ms Doherty said she was “delighted” to have sold the building, which she has owned for 15 years.

She recently had an application to convert the guest house into apartments refused by Harrogate Borough Council.

She said:

“Ninety-nine per cent of my guests were lovely and I had a lot of return visitors.”

Ms Doherty will soon step down from her role as chief executive of the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce and retire to Northumberland.

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Alexa House was built in 1896 by the renowned art collector Baron Conrad Adolphus du Bois de Ferrieres.

It was built as a hunting lodge for its London-based owners to spend time enjoying Harrogate’s spa and riding in the nearby countryside.

The Old Deanery in Ripon will close next year to become another financial victim of the coronavirus pandemic.

It has been a hotel, bar and wedding venue for the last 17 years just opposite Ripon Cathedral. The manager said it will close at the end of the lease on June 30 2021.

Any bookings before that point will not be affected by the closure. The Old Deanery made the announcement with “deep regret”.

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Chris Brown, general manager at The Old Deanery, said:

“Due to the extreme trading conditions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic and continued restrictions indefinitely affecting our wedding and event trade, the directors have made the difficult decision to cease trading.”

The Ripon Cathedral Chapter will once again take on the 17th Century Grade II listed building when the lease ends next year.

Mr Brown added that his team “would like to thank you all for your support over the years and look forward to seeing you again in the next ten months”.

When The Old Deanery made the announcement lots of customers commented that it was sad news and shared memories of their time there.

Andy Barnsdale has taken over the helm of The DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel & Spa.

He is the top hotel’s new general manager and said that the hospitality sector is facing a “very tough” next 12 months.

The Majestic was just a week away from officially opening its new £2 million spa and wellness centre, called The Harrogate Spa before the coronavirus lockdown.

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That new project has still not been given the go ahead to open but, in the meantime, they have opened a new dining concept called Majestic Weekends.

It had remained open throughout the pandemic for key workers before it reopened to the general public on July 4.

The DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel & Spa.

When Mr Barnsdale started his role 90% of the staff were on furlough but now they are bringing them back. He said:

“Thanks to the Cairn Group’s significant investment, The Majestic has regained its place as one of the finest hotels in the Harrogate District. Coronavirus has had a major impact on the hospitality sector, and we are facing a very tough 12 months. However, I believe we are well placed to pull through; we have a fantastic product and the Hilton brand is recognised and respected worldwide. Events and conferences are rebooking, and guests are coming back.”

Andy Barnsdale started his career in hospitality 25 years ago with Haven Holidays and over the next 11 years, he worked at six different holiday parks at general manager level before he moved onto hotels – namely Nidd Hall for six years.