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Sleaford’s Carre Arms Hotel is set to undergo a £1.8m refurb after North Kesteven District Council acquired the site a year ago to protect the asset and promote wider regeneration opportunities for the town.
Funded through business profits, a programme scheduled over the next 18 months to two years will – within the next couple of weeks – begin with works to provide new bedrooms, access, roofs, and reception plus anticipated improvements to the external frontage.
This comes on the back of several changes and improvements made over the past year by the management company, mostly related to the operations and the ‘behind the scenes’ processes.
The kitchen has also been upgraded along with the tills and booking systems, alongside various other repair works.
All of these improvements were understood and foreseen when the council bought the historic hotel through the use of business rates income that it was allowed to keep by the government for investment in the local economy.
The Carre Arms management company remains a private sector independent business with the council as the sole shareholder.
Endeavours to build up core aspects of the business such as weddings, conferencing and events, and the food and drink offering, have also been a priority of the management company during this last year – resulting in a five-fold increase in weddings and functions.
Through the removal of the trees and planned new planting, the outdoor space will be maximised for events and special occasions.
Additionally, the hotel has launched a new website and new menus for its a la carte, lunchtime, Sunday lunch, and breakfast service.
The council said: “As part of the original business plan produced when acquiring the Carre Arms it was identified that around £1.8m of investment would be needed to modernise and refurbish the building.
“Originally planned to occur over the first 10 years of the council’s ownership, it has since become clear that some aspects of the programme are more urgent and extensive, and need to be brought forward.”
