Closed hostel roundup

I'm putting together an article for my website which lists all the
hostels in the closure announcement (one year ago, come the end of the
month) and what's happened to them.

Through much digging and Googling, I've found out something about most
of the hostels scheduled to close last year, but maybe you guys can
fill in some gaps for me...

Does anybody know what happened to Baldersdale, Dentdale, Hastings,
Llanbedr & Meerbrook , other than that they've closed. Have they all
found buyers? Will any survive as independent hostels?

Does anybody know what's happening at Kirkby Stephen? A YHA press
release hints that the owner is interested in running it as an
enterprise, but I can find nothing else.

What's happened to Keld? I'm sure I heard somewhere that it's been
bought by a company that organises coast-to-coast walks, and that it
will live on as an independent hostel. But maybe I dreamt it.

Apart from these I'm pretty good on the class of 2006: 6 definitely
saved, 3 maybe saved, 2 don't know, and 12 definitely closed.

I've not got much on this year's lot. I know there's a campaign to buy
Dolgoch, I know the villagers want to save Invinhoe, but what's
happening at Bakewell, Brighton, Capel-y-ffin, Castle Hedingham, Dover,
Langsett, Lynton,
Matlock, Quantock, Sandown & Stainforth?

And for next year, there's interesting stuff online about Llangollen,
but what about Chester?

Any information gratefully received. If you can include links to
relevant news web pages that'd be even better.

Chris Hunt wrote:
> I'm putting together an article for my website which lists all the
> hostels in the closure announcement (one year ago, come the end of the
> month) and what's happened to them.

I've been trying to put together a similar article, but came up against
the same lack of definitive information as you have. Quite frankly,
I've just about had enough of trying to publicise YHA in a positive
light, particularly when they do so little to help themselves. The
previous few threads re new website, handbook, enterprise hostels etc
say it all. They really couldn't organise their way out of a wet paper
bag.

BTW Chris, did you see the article in today's Indy
(http://travel.independent.co.uk/news...cle2166980.ece)
about the "Budget beds battle"? It specifically mentions the Matlock
hostel - I thought this diabolical hovel was on the "hit list"?

> BTW Chris, did you see the article in today's Indy

No I didn't, but I'm linking to it now (see
http://www.yhagroup.org.uk/archives/budget-beds-battle ). Thanks for
the tip-off.

> I thought this diabolical hovel was on the "hit list"?

It is. It closes this year. Not before we've had the Local Groups'
Conference there though.

Chris Hunt wrote:
>
> And for next year, there's interesting stuff online about Llangollen,
> but what about Chester?

I did find this about Chester, in the jobs section:

"Following the Board's decision to close and sell the hostel site in
2009, restructuring of the staffing at Chester has taken place. A
vacancy now exists for a Deputy Manager, this position is to assist the
new hostel manager in proactively managing the hostel and business
until the anticipated closure date in October 2008."

On 21 Jan 2007 03:39:00 -0800, "Jacki" <jacki@pr-photo.net> wrote:

>
>Chris Hunt wrote:
>>
>> And for next year, there's interesting stuff online about Llangollen,
>> but what about Chester?
>
>I did find this about Chester, in the jobs section:
>
>"Following the Board's decision to close and sell the hostel site in
>2009, restructuring of the staffing at Chester has taken place. A
>vacancy now exists for a Deputy Manager, this position is to assist the
>new hostel manager in proactively managing the hostel and business
>until the anticipated closure date in October 2008."

Nothing wrong with that. Iit would be poor management not to try and
ahcieve the maximum return possible from the hostel in the meantime.

Nigel
replace SPAMHATER with n and t*sc*li with totalise

Who says there's anything wrong with it? I'm glad to see they're still
trying to make a go of the place. I've been able to add a little to my
article though - thanks Jacki.

SPAMHATERepper@tiscali.co.uk wrote:

> Nothing wrong with that. Iit would be poor management not to try and
> ahcieve the maximum return possible from the hostel in the meantime.
>
> Nigel

I never said there was anything wrong with advertising the position,
and agree YHA should maximise returns. There was no intended or
implied criticism of the advertisement itself - I posted the quote
purely for Chris's benefit as it gave a date for closure, which was
what he asked for.

On 21 Jan 2007 08:03:10 -0800, "Jacki" <jacki@pr-photo.net> wrote:

>
>SPAMHATERepper@tiscali.co.uk wrote:
>
>> Nothing wrong with that. Iit would be poor management not to try and
>> ahcieve the maximum return possible from the hostel in the meantime.
>>
>> Nigel
>
>I never said there was anything wrong with advertising the position,
>and agree YHA should maximise returns. There was no intended or
>implied criticism of the advertisement itself - I posted the quote
>purely for Chris's benefit as it gave a date for closure, which was
>what he asked for.

sorry misread the intent of the post

Nigel
replace SPAMHATER with n and t*sc*li with totalise

In proof-reading my article, I've come up with a more fundamental
problem with it. All the sources I can find seem to agree that YHA
announced they were closing 32 hostels - for example the BBC story at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4667126.stm . However, which 32? The BBC
story lists the following:

Acomb
Alston
Bakewell
Bellingham
Blackboys
Brighton
Capel-y-Ffin
Castle Hedingham
Dartington
Dolgoch
Dover
Earby
Elmscott
Greenhead
Hastings
Ivinghoe
Keld
Kirkby Stephen
Langsett
Llangollen
Lynton
Matlock
Meerbrook
Quantock
Sandown
Stainforth
Steps Bridge
Trefin
Tyncornel
Wooler

But that's just 30 hostels. Where are the other two? They also closed
(I think) Baldersdale, Blaencaron, Dentdale, Hampstead Heath, Kemsing,
Llanbedr and Malvern last year, were any of them on the list? Should
Chester be included?

I've tried the YHA web site, of course, but they seem to be pretending
that the whole thing didn't happen - no press releases about it, no
news stories, no nothing. That's a shame because there's a "good news"
story to tell here - half of last year's scheduled closures have been
saved in some form.

Anybody?

Chris Hunt wrote:
>
> I've tried the YHA web site, of course, but they seem to be pretending
> that the whole thing didn't happen - no press releases about it, no
> news stories, no nothing. That's a shame because there's a "good news"
> story to tell here - half of last year's scheduled closures have been
> saved in some form.
>
> Anybody?

There is the press release I've mentioned in the 'There're back'
thread -
http://www.yha.org.uk/about-yha/yha-...n_network.aspx
(Found by searching for 'Steps Bridge') I agreee it's hardly being
pushed forward.

Jon

Chris Hunt wrote:
>
> Does anybody know what's happening at Kirkby Stephen? A YHA press
> release hints that the owner is interested in running it as an
> enterprise, but I can find nothing else.
>
That is mentioned in the 'address label' stop press as well. I don't
have it here now, so can't check what it says. I think it is either a
'enterprise' YH or a bunkhouse.

Jon

On 22 Jan 2007 04:03:30 -0800, jonathan.gurney@wlc.ac.uk wrote:

>
>Chris Hunt wrote:
>>
>> Does anybody know what's happening at Kirkby Stephen? A YHA press
>> release hints that the owner is interested in running it as an
>> enterprise, but I can find nothing else.
>>
>That is mentioned in the 'address label' stop press as well. I don't
>have it here now, so can't check what it says. I think it is either a
>'enterprise' YH or a bunkhouse.
>
>Jon

From what I heard from a senior member of YHA staff last week it is no
further on that the owner is interested in running it as an enterprise
hostel but things have got no further. Including it on the flyer was
a precaution in case a deal does come of. A difficult choice but
probably better than it not appearing in the literature.

Nigel
replace SPAMHATER with n and t*sc*li with totalise

The mystery has been solved!

With thanks to Paul Fearn at the YHA press office, I've found the
missing two hostels - they are Liverpool and Rotherhithe (aka
Thameside). These two differ from the rest in that they're only going
to close if a better alternative can be found in the same city.

Also, I'm told that not only will Kirkby Stephen be re-opening under
the enterprise scheme but Baldersdale will be too!

Nice to be reporting good news for once.

-- Chris

Chris Hunt wrote:
> The mystery has been solved!
>
> With thanks to Paul Fearn at the YHA press office, I've found the
> missing two hostels - they are Liverpool and Rotherhithe (aka
> Thameside). These two differ from the rest in that they're only going
> to close if a better alternative can be found in the same city.
>
> Also, I'm told that not only will Kirkby Stephen be re-opening under
> the enterprise scheme but Baldersdale will be too!
>
> Nice to be reporting good news for once.

We stayed at Rotherhithe a few years ago. I fail to see why it only has
two stars. Maybe there is indeed a hidden agenda.

--
Brian

I've published my article today, to mark the first anniversary of the
closure announcement. You can read it at

http://www.yhagroup.org.uk/archives/one-year-on

You might also be interested in news of two possible embryonic *new*
hostels at http://www.yhagroup.org.uk/archives/...stel-prospects .

I'd welcome any comments (preferably on the site rather than here).

On 31 Jan 2007 01:19:38 -0800, "Chris Hunt"
<chris@leicesteryha.org.uk> wrote:

>I've published my article today, to mark the first anniversary of the
>closure announcement. You can read it at
>
>http://www.yhagroup.org.uk/archives/one-year-on
>
>You might also be interested in news of two possible embryonic *new*
>hostels at http://www.yhagroup.org.uk/archives/...stel-prospects .
>
>I'd welcome any comments (preferably on the site rather than here).

Nice updates thanks for doing them.

The Elmscott website is not the new owners or at least i don't think
it is. According to the homepage the site was last updated July 2004.

Malvern - I led a BTCV working holiday that stayed at the OEC about
10-12 years ago. IIRC it was all wooden/portable buildings on the
hillside that seemd to be a bit past their best then (OK so we all
know the damage school kids can do to a building) so I'm not surprised
that it needs almost £2 million spending on it. I know it sounds
crazy but sometimes there are grants available for 'new' properties -
which is what this would be for YHA- that are not available for
refurbishing old ones. All the same taking it on would be a hell of a
commitment unless the local authority are going to support it in
something the same way as is happening with Rotherham council over
Crowden.

Nigel
replace SPAMHATER with n and t*sc*li with totalise

	#1
Chris Hunt	Closed hostel roundup I'm putting together an article for my website which lists all the hostels in the closure announcement (one year ago, come the end of the month) and what's happened to them. Through much digging and Googling, I've found out something about most of the hostels scheduled to close last year, but maybe you guys can fill in some gaps for me... Does anybody know what happened to Baldersdale, Dentdale, Hastings, Llanbedr & Meerbrook , other than that they've closed. Have they all found buyers? Will any survive as independent hostels? Does anybody know what's happening at Kirkby Stephen? A YHA press release hints that the owner is interested in running it as an enterprise, but I can find nothing else. What's happened to Keld? I'm sure I heard somewhere that it's been bought by a company that organises coast-to-coast walks, and that it will live on as an independent hostel. But maybe I dreamt it. Apart from these I'm pretty good on the class of 2006: 6 definitely saved, 3 maybe saved, 2 don't know, and 12 definitely closed. I've not got much on this year's lot. I know there's a campaign to buy Dolgoch, I know the villagers want to save Invinhoe, but what's happening at Bakewell, Brighton, Capel-y-ffin, Castle Hedingham, Dover, Langsett, Lynton, Matlock, Quantock, Sandown & Stainforth? And for next year, there's interesting stuff online about Llangollen, but what about Chester? Any information gratefully received. If you can include links to relevant news web pages that'd be even better.

	#2
Jacki	Re: Closed hostel roundup Chris Hunt wrote: > I'm putting together an article for my website which lists all the > hostels in the closure announcement (one year ago, come the end of the > month) and what's happened to them. I've been trying to put together a similar article, but came up against the same lack of definitive information as you have. Quite frankly, I've just about had enough of trying to publicise YHA in a positive light, particularly when they do so little to help themselves. The previous few threads re new website, handbook, enterprise hostels etc say it all. They really couldn't organise their way out of a wet paper bag. BTW Chris, did you see the article in today's Indy (http://travel.independent.co.uk/news...cle2166980.ece) about the "Budget beds battle"? It specifically mentions the Matlock hostel - I thought this diabolical hovel was on the "hit list"?

	#3
Chris Hunt	Re: Closed hostel roundup > BTW Chris, did you see the article in today's Indy No I didn't, but I'm linking to it now (see http://www.yhagroup.org.uk/archives/budget-beds-battle ). Thanks for the tip-off. > I thought this diabolical hovel was on the "hit list"? It is. It closes this year. Not before we've had the Local Groups' Conference there though.

	#5
SPAMHATERepper@tiscali.co.uk	Re: Closed hostel roundup On 21 Jan 2007 03:39:00 -0800, "Jacki" <jacki@pr-photo.net> wrote: > >Chris Hunt wrote: >> >> And for next year, there's interesting stuff online about Llangollen, >> but what about Chester? > >I did find this about Chester, in the jobs section: > >"Following the Board's decision to close and sell the hostel site in >2009, restructuring of the staffing at Chester has taken place. A >vacancy now exists for a Deputy Manager, this position is to assist the >new hostel manager in proactively managing the hostel and business >until the anticipated closure date in October 2008." Nothing wrong with that. Iit would be poor management not to try and ahcieve the maximum return possible from the hostel in the meantime. Nigel replace SPAMHATER with n and tscli with totalise

	#6
Chris Hunt	Re: Closed hostel roundup Who says there's anything wrong with it? I'm glad to see they're still trying to make a go of the place. I've been able to add a little to my article though - thanks Jacki.

	#7
Jacki	Re: Closed hostel roundup SPAMHATERepper@tiscali.co.uk wrote: > Nothing wrong with that. Iit would be poor management not to try and > ahcieve the maximum return possible from the hostel in the meantime. > > Nigel I never said there was anything wrong with advertising the position, and agree YHA should maximise returns. There was no intended or implied criticism of the advertisement itself - I posted the quote purely for Chris's benefit as it gave a date for closure, which was what he asked for.

	#9
Chris Hunt	Re: Closed hostel roundup In proof-reading my article, I've come up with a more fundamental problem with it. All the sources I can find seem to agree that YHA announced they were closing 32 hostels - for example the BBC story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4667126.stm . However, which 32? The BBC story lists the following: Acomb Alston Bakewell Bellingham Blackboys Brighton Capel-y-Ffin Castle Hedingham Dartington Dolgoch Dover Earby Elmscott Greenhead Hastings Ivinghoe Keld Kirkby Stephen Langsett Llangollen Lynton Matlock Meerbrook Quantock Sandown Stainforth Steps Bridge Trefin Tyncornel Wooler But that's just 30 hostels. Where are the other two? They also closed (I think) Baldersdale, Blaencaron, Dentdale, Hampstead Heath, Kemsing, Llanbedr and Malvern last year, were any of them on the list? Should Chester be included? I've tried the YHA web site, of course, but they seem to be pretending that the whole thing didn't happen - no press releases about it, no news stories, no nothing. That's a shame because there's a "good news" story to tell here - half of last year's scheduled closures have been saved in some form. Anybody?

	#10
jonathan.gurney@wlc.ac.uk	Re: Closed hostel roundup Chris Hunt wrote: > > I've tried the YHA web site, of course, but they seem to be pretending > that the whole thing didn't happen - no press releases about it, no > news stories, no nothing. That's a shame because there's a "good news" > story to tell here - half of last year's scheduled closures have been > saved in some form. > > Anybody? There is the press release I've mentioned in the 'There're back' thread - http://www.yha.org.uk/about-yha/yha-...n_network.aspx (Found by searching for 'Steps Bridge') I agreee it's hardly being pushed forward. Jon

	#12
SPAMHATERepper@tiscali.co.uk	Re: Closed hostel roundup On 22 Jan 2007 04:03:30 -0800, jonathan.gurney@wlc.ac.uk wrote: > >Chris Hunt wrote: >> >> Does anybody know what's happening at Kirkby Stephen? A YHA press >> release hints that the owner is interested in running it as an >> enterprise, but I can find nothing else. >> >That is mentioned in the 'address label' stop press as well. I don't >have it here now, so can't check what it says. I think it is either a >'enterprise' YH or a bunkhouse. > >Jon From what I heard from a senior member of YHA staff last week it is no further on that the owner is interested in running it as an enterprise hostel but things have got no further. Including it on the flyer was a precaution in case a deal does come of. A difficult choice but probably better than it not appearing in the literature. Nigel replace SPAMHATER with n and tscli with totalise

	#13
Chris Hunt	Re: Closed hostel roundup The mystery has been solved! With thanks to Paul Fearn at the YHA press office, I've found the missing two hostels - they are Liverpool and Rotherhithe (aka Thameside). These two differ from the rest in that they're only going to close if a better alternative can be found in the same city. Also, I'm told that not only will Kirkby Stephen be re-opening under the enterprise scheme but Baldersdale will be too! Nice to be reporting good news for once. -- Chris

	#14
BrianW	Re: Closed hostel roundup Chris Hunt wrote: > The mystery has been solved! > > With thanks to Paul Fearn at the YHA press office, I've found the > missing two hostels - they are Liverpool and Rotherhithe (aka > Thameside). These two differ from the rest in that they're only going > to close if a better alternative can be found in the same city. > > Also, I'm told that not only will Kirkby Stephen be re-opening under > the enterprise scheme but Baldersdale will be too! > > Nice to be reporting good news for once. We stayed at Rotherhithe a few years ago. I fail to see why it only has two stars. Maybe there is indeed a hidden agenda. -- Brian

	#15
Chris Hunt	Re: Closed hostel roundup I've published my article today, to mark the first anniversary of the closure announcement. You can read it at http://www.yhagroup.org.uk/archives/one-year-on You might also be interested in news of two possible embryonic new hostels at http://www.yhagroup.org.uk/archives/...stel-prospects . I'd welcome any comments (preferably on the site rather than here).

	#16
SPAMHATERepper@tiscali.co.uk	Re: Closed hostel roundup On 31 Jan 2007 01:19:38 -0800, "Chris Hunt" <chris@leicesteryha.org.uk> wrote: >I've published my article today, to mark the first anniversary of the >closure announcement. You can read it at > >http://www.yhagroup.org.uk/archives/one-year-on > >You might also be interested in news of two possible embryonic new >hostels at http://www.yhagroup.org.uk/archives/...stel-prospects . > >I'd welcome any comments (preferably on the site rather than here). Nice updates thanks for doing them. The Elmscott website is not the new owners or at least i don't think it is. According to the homepage the site was last updated July 2004. Malvern - I led a BTCV working holiday that stayed at the OEC about 10-12 years ago. IIRC it was all wooden/portable buildings on the hillside that seemd to be a bit past their best then (OK so we all know the damage school kids can do to a building) so I'm not surprised that it needs almost £2 million spending on it. I know it sounds crazy but sometimes there are grants available for 'new' properties - which is what this would be for YHA- that are not available for refurbishing old ones. All the same taking it on would be a hell of a commitment unless the local authority are going to support it in something the same way as is happening with Rotherham council over Crowden. Nigel replace SPAMHATER with n and tscli with totalise