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Businessman's elitist plans for Lake District hotel

11:10am Friday 29th January 2010


A TOP Lake District hotel has been bought by a businessman who plans to turn it into ’more than just a hotel and board’ with extras such as helicopter airport transfers and luxury supercar hire.

Holbeck Ghyll, which boasts stunning views over Lake Windermere and the Langdale Fells, has been bought by Stephen Leahy in a multi-million pound deal.

The move fulfils a ‘lifelong ambition’ of the 44-year-old, who has lived near Staveley for the last five years and is the CEO of the Select Group of businesses based in Manchester.

“Ever since I was a teenager, when dining out without my parents was a novelty thing, the idea of owning my own hotel or restaurant struck me as a great lifestyle choice, far more fun than engineering,” he said.

“So when I decided, 25 years later, to make my foray into the hospitality industry, it had to be to go for the best example of what my local area had to offer.”

He added: “But as a perfectionist I aim to make Holbeck Ghyll even better. Guests coming to this hotel will experience something far more fulfilling than just a hotel and board.”

Mr Leahy hopes to turn the 26-bedroom hotel into one of the country’s most popular country house hotels and is already planning to introduce a number of new services such as luxury supercar hire, shooting and fishing breaks, helicopter airport transfers and Lake District heli-tours, lake cruises, guided walks and climbing.

The hotel also boasts a Michelin Star restaurant, which it has just retained for the tenth consecutive year, and Mr Leahy plans to prepare Michelin Star packed lunches for some of the excursions.

“Whatever guests want, we will get it,” he said.

Mr Leahy said he was looking to improve every aspect of the hotel including revamping the rooms and staff accomodation.

The day-to-day running of the hotel will be overseen by Paul Roebuck, who has 36 years experience in the hospitality industry, including working at Miller Howe, Windermere.

He said: "This is a fantastic opportunity. The hotel already has a reputation that is second to none and I'm really looking forward to taking all that is great about the place and making it even better.”


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faircumbrian, Central Lakes says...
12:32pm Fri 29 Jan 10

I am all in favour of high quality businesses attracting a diverse clientele. However, to even suggest "Lake District heli-tours" is a step too far. Such tours would be wholly inappropriate and incongruous in an area that thousands of other people visit precisely because it is relatively peaceful and tranquil. One helicopter flight might provide fleeting enjoyment for a handful of people, but it would simultaneously impact adversely on thousands of others. Furthermore, the Lake District’s wild birds have a hard enough time, without further unnecessary disturbance from ‘pleasure flights’.

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avidfellwalker, Ulverston says...
11:01pm Thu 11 Feb 10

As (quite literally!) an avid climber and fell walker I share, to a point, Faircumbrian's reservations over some of the plans which the new owners of Holbeck Ghyll may have, but surely his concerns are somewhat reactionary and might I suggest even a little naive? Any commercial aviation within our National Parks is stringently controlled by both the Civil Aviation Authority and the Nation Park Authority, in whom I have the utmost confidence to control or prohibit any activity potentially damaging to the amenity of the area. More importantly though, it saddens me that during one of the most challenging periods for our local businesses since foot and mouth (I'm reliable informed that the combined effect of the economic down turn, last year’s floods and the recent harsh winter have seen visitor numbers tumble) we cannot simply commend and support our local entrepreneurs for investing in our businesses and people, when across both the region and the country, we see jobs, expertise and investment haemorrhage away? My final thought, I found the title of this article somewhat cynical. It summed up all that is worst with the often parochial mentality we can all occasionally be guilty of. Who is the more "elitist", the embittered local resident (or journalist?) who resents the presence and impact of the tourist community and all it brings with it, yet willingly embraces the essential economic support it provides to our communities; or a local businessman attempting to broaden the appeal of this wonderful area to all social classes? We should celebrate, and embrace Mr. Leahy’s enthusiasm for the region and I wish him every success as the latest custodian of this wonderful property (just please, don’t get too carried away!)

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fellfinder, Cartmel says...
7:24pm Thu 18 Feb 10

This hotels future plans of helicopter airport transfers and luxury supercar hire is a with little regard to the National Park. Super cars able to reach speeds of 200 miles an hour on our roads is stupidity.

Maybe as a perfectionist the new owner should do some research about the plans of the LDNPA and there goals for tourism in the area.

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BIG PLANS: Stephen Leahy and Paul Roebuck at the hotel BIG PLANS: Stephen Leahy and Paul Roebuck at the hotel


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