If the pipeline plans to replace the ugly, empty, crumbling monstrosity that is Kingsmead House with a 190-room ‘budget friendly’ hotel came to fruition, would the venture serve to support local businesses or threaten their existence? The response to such a controversial riddle depends solely on personal perspective.
Taking a bold move heartily endorsed by the Bath Independent Guest House Association, Bath Heritage Watchdog and the Bath Preservation Trust, local resident Roger Houghton recently launched a website dedicated to opposing the current proposals for the site’s development (www.kingsmeadhouse.info). Mr Houghton’s objections are largely based on the appearance of sketched blueprints (and okay, they’re not particularly pretty), but BIGHA etc fear that if BANES say yes, the city will become saturated with hundreds of extra unnecessary hotel rooms poised to take business away from their members. But when available hotel rooms – be they ‘budget’, ‘premium’, B&B, hostel, whatever – in Bath are as rare as hen’s teeth for around 10 months of the year (the Heritage City is, after all, not only one of the UK’s most popular tourist destinations but also fast building up a reputation as Festival City), surely the more visitors we serve, the more
customers there are to keep local businesses blooming?
Meanwhile – and, as The Pig sees it, on a far more sinister note – thisisbath.co.uk continues to persist in banging on about how eagerly “we’re” supposedly awaiting news of which of four massive ‘leisure’ conglomerates will win the right to open a casino in the centre of the city, with Sawclose proving to be the most wanted location. Keep the thriving contemporary staycation market at bay but say yes to a casino and what have you got? The new Blackpool, that’s what.
Any thoughts on the matter, either way? Whichever side of the fence you sit on, feel free to vent your opinion here.
In Going Out world this week, The Pig is mostly…
…bemoaning the fact the Bath Literature Festival is over for another year, but eagerly anticipating the Bath Comedy Festival, the Bath Music Festival and all the other festivals that are earning the Heritage City the title of Summer Festival HQ UK…
…lovin’ Roman Candles, the fragrant new venture recently opened on Terrace Walk…
…preparing to hop along to ipop!, Komedia’s newest Friday night affair that replaces the by now rather tired and emotional ‘I luv the 90s’-themed shebang with a playlist loosely described as a “non-stop shuffle of the biggest pop and party anthems” – cheese overdose ahoy!…
…lounging around sipping cocktails on a lush leather sofa at Circo on South Parade, but wishing it was warm enough to take up residency on that spiffing, spacious alfresco terrace outfront…
