Ambitious plans have been unveiled to reopen a Kirkby Stephen hotel and breathe new life into the town’s tourist appeal by creating a visitor attraction in its grounds.
Paul Askew, of Encounter Eden Limited, said the proposal involved the acquisition of the King’s Arms, making it into a 20-bedroom hotel, and using revenue from selling overnight accommodation to fund a heritage centre in its former ballroom.
With a sound business model in place, it is hoped funding could be drawn down from the National Lottery, Kirkby Stephen’s annual town meeting was told.
Mr Askew said once the Charity Commission was satisfied that Encounter Eden can be granted charitable status, the acquisition of the hotel will be able to go ahead.
At present, an oral history project was under way which would eventually be able to be shown and heard in the heritage centre.
“Anybody and everybody will get to have a chance and we are going to team up with the school to get the kids to interview their grandparents,” said Mr Askew.
Also in the offing is a local archaeology project, where residents will be invited to dig in their back gardens. There will also be some trial pits put down in the back of the Kings Arms to see what is there.
Other ideas include a “celebration of the Swaledale”, a model railway and having a hotel kitchen garden at Hills Bottom.
Architect Jo Sharples, who is based in Manchester, said a feasibility report had been produced which details the amazing opportunities which the Kings Arms site has to offer.
“It is really quite an incredible asset so we were very excited to start working on it,” said Jo.
She said with the Kings Arms premises having been vacant for over two years it was becoming increasingly derelict.
“It is gradually showing quite strong signs of neglect, so it really does need some love and funding channelling into it.
“But actually at the heart of it there is a beautiful staircase as it goes up the building and we are really thinking how we can restore it to its former glory,” said Jo.
She added that there were also plans to create a new public yard and open up the site so visitors can once again walk all the way through it down to the River Eden and the Coast to Coast route.
“Broadly speaking we want to really try to restore and enhance the two main elements of the site. The Kings Arms Coaching Inn, which is Grade II listed, and the old ballroom which will be extended out to become a heritage centre and exhibition space (over two floors),” said Jo.
In the back of the garden area, eight new bedrooms are proposed, which will overlook a courtyard garden.
The creation of an Upper Eden Field Studies Centre at Kirkby Stephen Business Park, which would be able to be used as a scout hut, was also being proposed as part of the project. Eden gets five million visitors a year, but the annual dwell time for visitors in Kirkby Stephen is just 18 minutes.
At present, Mr Askew said there was nothing to hold people for an hour-and-a-half, which was said to be “magic” figure, as it means visitors are then more likely to also look for somewhere to eat or drink in the town.
