Hopes of Buxton's Crescent Hotel reopening are sparked as hoardings come down

The hotel was set to open its doors for the first time in over 30 years in May but Ensana Health Spa Hotels who will run the venue have been silent since the missed deadline.

However a spokesperson said today that though no date had yet been set for reopening work was making ‘excellent progress’ and ‘we hope to be able to update very soon’.

The county council said in March that restoration of the former hotel and spa had been ‘complex and challenging’ and that ‘unforeseen issues’ had continued to impact the construction deadline.

However they added that work to restore the ‘fabric’ of the building was now complete and the venue was being fitted out as a hotel and spa with some areas already complete.

Photos posted on social media on Friday showed the Buxton landmark’s gritstone structure - built in the 1780s - lit up by bright sunshine for the first time in years.

Louise Cross is executive director of Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust - the charity with responsibility for running the hotel’s Visitor Experience with a collection of rooms telling its history.

She said seeing the wooden boards come down felt like a ‘momentous occasion’, adding: “It was done quietly but to me it felt like ‘this is going to happen’.

“I got a call on Friday at about 7.30am from someone saying ‘the boards have come down’ and we all got very excited because this has defined Buxton for so long.

“As far as I know we’re getting ready for the big opening and everything is still on track.

“It’s ironic because we were preparing to open when Covid-19 struck but now restrictions are lifting it couldn’t be a better time.

“I’m really excited for Buxton because to have this level of investment is brilliant - I see this as a 100 per cent positive sign and it's just a question of getting a date.”

Jean Todd, councillor for Buxton Central ward, said: “We’ve been waiting for this for such a long time - it’s going to be a big success.”

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