Grand Hotel: Scarborough residents react to plan to buy landmark

Built in 1863, the Grand Hotel stands above Scarborough's South Bay

A plan by a North Yorkshire mayoral candidate to buy and restore Scarborough's Grand Hotel if elected has sparked mixed reactions.

The Conservative candidate, Keane Duncan, pledged to make the landmark Victorian hotel "grand again" during a mayoral debate last Wednesday.

Rival candidates said the idea was "unnecessary" and "senseless".

While some Scarborians welcomed the plan, others said the town needed "investment and entertainment" instead.

Mr Duncan, who is one of six people in the running to be York and North Yorkshire's first elected mayor, said the Grand had gone from being one of the "largest and most luxurious hotels in Europe" to the "shame of Scarborough".

The hotel opened in 1867 in the style of a French chateau and was said to be the largest and grandest hotel in Europe.

According to Visit Scarborough, the building's four towers represent the seasons, while it has 12 floors, 52 chimneys and, originally, 365 bedrooms to represent the number of months, weeks and days in a year.

Lynn Jackson from the Scarborough Hospitality Association said what the town really needed was "entertainment"

While Mr Duncan's rival candidates had varying views on the pledge some people the BBC spoke to in the town said they were in favour of the plan.

Resident Angela Stone said "I'd like to see it done, but the amount of money it would cost..."

Meanwhile, Dennis Beecroft said: "Anybody that's willing to spend money on it to improve it, yes, that's a good idea."

His wife Joan Beecroft agreed, saying it would be "absolutely wonderful".

"We've spent a lot of time in there on a Saturday night having a dance and a drink, but we wouldn't go in now," she said.

Scarborian Dennis Beecroft said he welcomed anybody willing to spend money on the hotel

However, some residents were less enamoured with the idea.

Samantha Hay, who has run an estate agent in Scarborough for decades, said valuing the hotel would be a mammoth job and she could not see any benefit from the scheme.

"It fulfils a certain market and for people that want to come and spend a reasonable amount of money it fits their needs," she said.

"I don't see why it would need to be taken under the public domain."

Lynn Jackson from the Scarborough Hospitality Association agreed with Ms Hay.

"The biggest thing we need is reasons to come to Scarborough all year round," she said.

"So what we really need is investment. An activity centre maybe that's all-weather. We need entertainment."

The hotel is not believed to be for sale at present, however the BBC has contacted current owners Britannia for comment.

The candidates for the North Yorkshire Mayoral election are:

• Felicity Cunliffe-Lister - Liberal Democrats

• Keane Duncan - The Conservative Party

• Kevin Foster- The Green Party

• Paul Haslam - Independent

• David Skaith - Labour and Co-operative Party

• Keith Tordoff - Independent