'Architectural gem' set for new era

Over the centuries, York's Bootham Bar has been battered by forces supporting Royal impostors and the rights of Parliament. Early tourists were more likely to encounter cannon fire than Basil Fawlty-style histrionics from local hotel owners.
A Bootham Bar landmark which has stood for 250 years is set for a new lease of life after changing hands in a multi-million pound deal.

The Four High Petergate Hotel & Bistro has been bought by the de Bretton hospitality group, which also owns York's four-star Marmadukes Hotel and Harvilles Restaurant.

The 14-room hotel, which employs 20 staff, has been snapped up by de Bretton's managing director David Hattersley from the hotel's previous owner, Steve Hull, the chief executive of Sawfish Software.

Mr Hattersley said. "This hotel is an architectural gem. The views of the Minster are the best in the city. Properties of this importance don't come up very often. Four High Petergate has a very good reputation and the footfall is immense through Bootham."

Four High Petergate stands near the city walls and Bootham Bar, the site of the Roman gateway.

The area has seen plenty of upheavals. York's defenders saw off an attack by Lord Scrope on behalf of the Royal impostor, Lambert Simnel, in 1487.

The original townhouse that stood on Four High Petergate was destroyed during the English Civil War.

It was rebuilt in 1756 and served as a family home, until it was converted into a hotel 50 years
ago.

Four High Petergate is the latest piece of York history to be acquired by de Bretton. Last year it acquired the 700-year-old Lendal Tower.

Lendal Tower was originally part of York's defences. In Tudor times, it housed a great chain, which could be dragged across the river to protect the city from attack, and also stopped ships from entering or leaving York without paying taxes.

The courtyard has a weeping elm tree, said to have been brought to the site by Colonel Thornton as a seedling from the grave of Napoleon on St Helena.

Mr Hattersley added: "Strategically, buying Four High Petergate makes a lot of sense. I have a number of businesses in central York like Harvilles Restaurant, the Lendal Tower complex and Marmadukes Hotel off Bootham which will benefit from the Four High Petergate acquisition."

The de Bretton group has invested more than £20m in York since 2006.

Greg Wright. 

August 23, 2007 
The Yorkshire Post

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