Goole hotel’s restoration bucking sector downturn
WORK on restoring Goole’s Lowther Hotel may not yet be complete but its developers are busy taking bookings for next year.
Earlier this year York-based developers the Julie Howard Partnership announced ambitious plans to restore the rundown hotel on Aire Street to its former glory and re-open it as a 14-bedroom wedding and conference venue.
Work began on site in August and is now at an advanced stage, and the new-look Lowther Hotel is due to open its doors early next year.
Julie and Howard Duckworth, the couple behind the project, knew that the venue would be popular but have been taken aback by the high volume of enquiries that they have had about meetings, weddings and other events – a number of which have already generated bookings.
Howard Duckworth of the Julie Howard Partnership said: “We have been amazed but delighted at how many people have already been in touch to express an interest in booking events here.
“The fact that we have taken bookings months before work is complete and even before people have had an opportunity to view the end result of our extensive restoration scheme demonstrates that there is a real need for a high quality conference and wedding venue in Goole.”
He added: “Although work on site is not yet complete, we are particularly pleased with the restoration of the historic murals that line the walls of three first floor rooms. Now that the murals and the original period features in these rooms are looking as they would have done originally, it has created a totally unique and stunning setting for special occasions, such as weddings.”
The Julie Howard Partnership specialises in the restoration of historic buildings and has already brought a number of derelict properties in Goole back into use having invested in the region of £4m in the town during the last six years.
During the last 25 years the company has invested millions of pounds in bringing rundown historic buildings across Yorkshire back into use, including the award-winning restorations of the former post office in Bridlington’s Old Town and the former railway buildings in Goole.
