SOUTH WEST BUSINESS NEWS inform


Charity chair announces hostel refurb


Bath Youth Hostel


A Wellow man has marked his reappointment as the chairman of the leading youth charity YHA (England and Wales) by signing off a £2.5m investment in Bath Youth Hostel, the single biggest investment in a youth hostel in the South West. Peter Gaines (pictured) was originally appointed as chairman of YHA in 2015 to lead the charity’s board of trustees. Peter said: “YHA is a leading national charity with a primary aim of reaching out to all, but especially young people, and their families, with challenging lives. “Running parallel with this


mission is the need to operate an organisation that is financially sustainable and fully modernised, so I am delighted we are able to invest so extensively in YHA Bath and the South West. “This investment in Bath typifies


the modern YHA of the future. Bath is a popular destination for both school groups and young people and their families and it was important to me that we brought the Youth Hostel up to the world class


will all be en-suite and a further five en-suite bedrooms will be created in the existing building. Additionally, there will be 11 double bedrooms to cater for the families and couples travel market. The main building, a stunning


listed Italian-style mansion set in large private gardens, will undergo a total refurbishment and upgrade bringing it up to the standards expected from visitors. A new cycle store and guest


‘I am


delighted we are able to invest so extensively in


accommodation standards now associated with the YHA network.” As part of the investment the


youth hostel, which is based on Bathwick Hill, has received planning permission to build a new bedroom annex, which will bring the total number of beds to 133. The bedrooms within the annex


laundry will also be created, and all bedroom doors will have secure electronic key access for greater peace of mind for the many school groups that stay at YHA Bath each year. YHA Bath is one of three youth hostels in Somerset operated by YHA. Further


YHA Bath and the South West’


investment is being made by the Youth Hostelling charity in the South


West at YHA Perranporth in Cornwall


and YHA Swanage in Dorset in


2018. Since 2010, YHA has invested more than £30m into its 160-strong network of hostels, creating modern, comfortable award- winning accommodation.


Visit: www.yha.org.uk MARCH/APRIL 2018 insight 7


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