The Abbey to get £1.5m makeover
One of Bath's oldest hotels is set to undergo a £1.5m revamp after its new owners secured funding from Barclays Corporate.
A three-year modernisation programme is planned for The Abbey, which Ian and Christa Taylor purchased from the Compass Hotels group with financial support from Barclays.
The husband-and-wife team has pledged to strengthen Bath's tourism offer with improvements to the hotel's terrace area, restaurant, ground floor and 60 bedrooms.
The three-star Abbey Hotel, which will continue to be marketed under the Best Western brand under the new owners, averages a year-round occupancy rate of 80 per cent, predominantly from the leisure market.
Ian Taylor said: "Bath is one of those destinations that will never lose its appeal from a tourist perspective, with visitors to the city coming from both within the UK and overseas. I see an enormous opportunity for the city’s businesses – hotels, restaurants, bars and shops – to work together to continue to market this city as an exciting, ever evolving 'must see' destination.
"I believe there is a gap in the market for an affordable, mid-market boutique hotel offering in Bath, which The Abbey has the potential to fulfil. My vision for the hotel also includes working harder to position the hotel as a part of the Bath community."
