The people put our town in the top 10
HE future of a rural hotel near Huddersfield has been secured after it was bought by a fast growing Yorkshire hotel and leisure group. Northern Powerhouse Developments (NPD) has boosted its portfolio of properties in the county with the acquisition of Pennine Manor Hotel at Scapegoat Hill.
The hotel, which boasts its own helipad, was put on the market for £1.25m by global chain Best Western almost two years ago, causing concern for couples with long term wedding bookings .
But it has remained open and the takeover deal has now been confirmed. NPD said it plans a sympathetic refurbishment of the 31-bedroom hotel at Nettleton Hill AN online poll by iLiveHere branded Huddersfield the second worst place to live in the UK. Here, former Examiner head of content ANDREW HIRST, who now runs his own Huddersfield-based public relations agency AH! PR, explains why the opposite is true.
SO a website has just ‘revealed’ that Huddersfield is the second worst place to live in the UK. Makes a strong headline – mind you, it always does when a place gets a good kicking.
It was reported on a national newspaper’s website so, intrigued, I thought I’d drill into the poll on www.ilivehere.co.uk to see if there was anything in it. And, er... no there isn’t. The results seem to be based primarily on Facebook shares.
Treat it for what it is – something along the lines of Viz magazine that’s out to caricature as many places as it can and openly admits that ‘all articles are written by our contributors and are for entertainment purposes only’.
In short, it’s there as a big stick to try to provoke a response, for it proudly boasts: ‘Let’s get down to the business of offending local councillors, dignitaries and meddlesome ratbags. It makes our day when they react to the new Top 10, desperately Road and vowed to take it more upmarket.
The company aims to maintain its policy of injecting new life into much-loved destinations, which often acts as a catalyst to a greater revival of surrounding areas.
NPD Chairman Gavin Woodhouse said the firm had plans to enhance the guest experience by transforming it into a ‘stand-out retreat destination’, with refurbishment including a new spa complex, an al fresco bar and a dining area.
He added: “We are delighted to be able to announce the arrival of our fourth hotel in Yorkshire and look forward to opening the doors at Pennine Manor.
“Already established as an idyllic trying to polish a ***d of a town.’
And enjoy the double repetition in its introduction to Huddersfield: ‘Despite a solid viral sharing campaign on Facebook, last year’s cherry on top of the sh*t cake has lost the lost the (sic) top spot by just over a 107 votes’.
Sit back and admire the contributors as some reach almost poetic heights in their eagerness to pour scorn and bile on their home town.
Sadly none seem to live in Hud- dersfield as the only comment they’ve used sums the town up with the cliche that there’s ‘nothing but pound shops and a few coffee shops’, adding that ‘it’s polluted, unclean and full of idiots. It’s a horrible place to live.’
Follow the link to someone who supposedly lives here yet can’t spell Primrose Hill (Primerose) or even Crosland Moor (Crossland) correctly.
To keep the same theme going they also struggle with South Crosland (Crosland) and Farnley Tyas (Farnly – which, let’s face it, doesn’t even look right).
So when it comes to the worst of the top 10 worst surveys ever, my vote’s solidly with ilivehere.co.uk. It’s a sure fire winner.
But there’s no need to react, for anyone who knows Huddersfield is aware that it has some of the most talented and kind-hearted folk anywhere in the UK, along with an award-winning university, stunning countryside and innovative businesses.
I should know as I reported on them for more than 30 years in the Huddersfield Examiner.
It’s the good people that make a place and in that respect Huddersfield is definitely in the top 10.” enhance its reputation and build upon its perfect position in this beautiful and much-visited part of the world.”
NPD’s other Yorkshire hotels are The Imperial Crown in Halifax, The Old Golf Course in Huddersfield and Scarborough’s Esplanade
Hotel.
The Elland -based developer – which has Peter Moore, the man who brought Centre Parcs to the UK, on its board – has a further eight developments under way across the country.
They include Gilsland Spa in Cumbria, a collection of four hotels in North Wales and two further sites in South Wales.
Founded by Mr Woodhouse, award-winning Northern Powerhouse Developments identifies prime development properties due to their historically strong attraction to tourists and looks to buy several hotels to create a cluster.
In Wales the company operates six hotels and has a number under development, including the Afan Valley Adventure resort in South Wales which is set to become home to the Bear Grylls Survival Academy European headquarters.
Other sites are at Woolacombe and Dartmoor, both Devon, Bourtonon-Dunsmore, near Rugby, Warwickshire, and at Brampton in Cumbria.
Its expanding hotel portfolio means it employs over 650 people in England and Wales.