Ex-BBC broadcasting house The Wood Norton officially re-opens as hotel
The Grade II Listed building in The Vale of Evesham, Worcestershire, was bought by the BBC in 1939 as an emergency broadcasting centre for use during the Second World War. It was used by the corporation as an engineering training centre before being sold for use as a hotel in 2002.
Earlier this year, the property, which had been closed for three years, was acquired by an unnamed English businessman who has spent the last six months refurbishing the property and turning it into a luxury 50-bedroom boutique hotel and restaurant that will be aimed at the leisure and corporate market.
The hotel's general manager Oliver Cooke, who will officially re-open the hotel next week, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with the results. The building looks fantastic, and will make for a great place for holiday makers and business professionals to eat and stay.
“The building is steeped in history, having been built originally as a hunting lodge for European Royalty in 1897. It’s since been the home of the BBC for over 60 years, and we’re now looking to create our own piece of history by turning it into a fantastic get-away.”
Sleeping and dining
The Wood Norton, which is part of Bespoke Hotels' portfolio, offers 20 bedrooms, a restaurant, bar snooker room and meeting rooms within the main hall.
The remaining 30 bedrooms are found at Pear Tree Mews, formerly the stables and coach house while the estate's blacksmith's building has been turned into a business area with meeting rooms.
Gary Wheeler, who worked as sous chef to John Campbell at Lords of the Manor, Upper Slaughter before moving to Herefordshire's Castle Hotel and Holm Lacey House, has been appointed head chef of The Restaurant at The Wood Norton which its owners hope will be a destination in its own right.
The menu has a British focus and includes dishes using locally-sourced produce such as poached corn fed chicken with truffle, savoy cabbage and celeriac and shallot and Ragstone goats cheese tarte tatin.
