'Sadness' over closure of listed hotel

A Grade II* listed hotel that has undergone major refurbishment in recent years has closed.

In a statement, the owner of The Hind Hotel, a 17th Century landmark in the centre of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, said it had taken the decision with "great sadness".

"The company has faced serious hardship with respect to rising costs, reduced town centre footfall and government policy often seemingly targeting the hospitality industry," said the message from the "outgoing Team Hind".

The government has previously said it is supporting the hospitality sector with a £4.3bn package.

Hind Wellingborough Ltd said that during eight-and-a-half years of ownership, £1.3m had been spent on a "massive external refurbishment".

The refurbishment was carried out in partnership with the Heritage Lottery Fund and Wellingborough Borough Council, which has since been absorbed by North Northamptonshire Council. It has been asked for comment.

The 34-bedroom hotel has stood on Sheep Street, in the town's square, for centuries.

It was thought to have been used by Oliver Cromwell in the days before the Battle of Naseby in 1645.

The statement announcing it was closing said £600,000 had been spent on refurbishing bedrooms, corridors and halls and £300,000 on modernising ground-floor public areas and replacing old equipment.

"We took on a dilapidated building, with bedrooms stuck in a 1990s time warp and equipment throughout the hotel on the brink of collapse," it said.

"The director would like to thank the team for their dedication when faced with adversity such as the main refurbishment contractor going bust three months into the 24-month refurbishment, and their resilience in the wave of shocks such as Covid and the current economic downturn."

It said the hotel's director, who had been "privileged to own such a beautiful building", had "never made one penny" and had put in personal funds "close to £1m".

The post said the hotel was in "better shape than for 30 years or maybe longer" and it expressed hope a new owner would be found.

"We have no doubt the hotel will reopen in the not-too-distant future and will once again be the centrepiece of the town."

Paul Bell, leader of Wellingborough Town Council, said: "The Hind Hotel has been part of our community's fabric for many years, and we recognise that its closure will be felt by residents, visitors and the local business community alike.

"We hope that this hotel, which has been sympathetically restored, will quickly attract new owners to ensure continuity for its dedicated staff and the community."

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.