TALKING BUSINESS


YOU NEED TO CHECK IN TO CHECK US OUT


General manager PETE FARROWhas issued a rallying cry invitation for people to come and visit the new-look Harben House Hotel, which has undergone a major £3 million refurbishment


The general manager of Harben House Hotel, Pete Farrow, would be first to admit that his venue is not quite picture perfect from the outside. Following a £3m refurbishment, including a total


revamp of all 140 bedrooms, a shiny new reception area and a boutique-style bar and restaurant, he is justifiably proud of the hotel interior and its offering. Pete said: “If you judge a book by its cover then


Harben House hotel is functional but inside it is beautiful. We are all extremely proud of the new modern hotel and I think it will be received in that way. We just want to make a real success of it.” Testament to the staff, the Newport


Pagnell hotel has been fully operational throughout the 12-month refurbishment period, despite all hotel rooms being totally redesigned and the entire ground floor being overhauled. “The greatest achievement is our


“I’ve liked the quick pace and it’s been nice to get


great feedback from guests.” So far the response has been fantastic. The two


relaunch events in January – one corporate party, one community bash – saw around 100 guests at each. Pete said: “We want to be a preferred venue, a


‘OUR NEW


OWNERS WERE VERY KEEN TO INVEST IN THE


team,” said Pete. “Our staff are the ones who have been through the refurbishment journey of the shop floor. Seeing them motivated and happy as well as the difference it has made to their working day, is really nice.” The hotel revamp has been done in stages to keep


disruption to any minimum and the conference side of the business is yet to be touched. Plans for a new look in that area are in the pipeline. Operations manager James Simpson, who started at


the business in the New Year, said: “The challenge has been to manage expectations while keeping business going as normal.


preferred choice for the local community. We’ve got the right product and the right team involved. We just need to get our message out there so people come and experience the hotel. “There’s nothing else like this in the area and we very much wanted to open to the local market. We want to become a stand-alone restaurant and bar for the local area.” The new eatery and drinking hole


TRANSFORMATION VISION FOR THE HOTEL’


uses local suppliers and hopes to soon be renowned for its extensive range of gin. It is shortly due to host its first Milton Keynes Chamber of


Commerce event since its makeover. “We’d love to receive honest feedback from Chamber members,” said Pete, who


joined Harben House in June last year shortly after


new owners Countrywide took the helm. “The place deserved investment and our new owners were very keen to invest in the transformation vision for the hotel. “For me the challenge was too good an opportunity


to miss. To relaunch a venue into a market is probably one of the most exciting things you can do as a hotelier.” He added: “We are independent. We are not tied to a


badge. We can do exactly what we feel the guests want and that’s a huge plus.”


The team at Harben House Hotel


APRIL/MAY 2018 inbusiness 19


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