North East hospitality group Ramside Estates is developing plans to turn its businesses into leisure resorts following a pandemic pause on investments.
The company – owner and operator of Ramside Hall Hotel and Golf Club, Hardwick Hall, Bowburn Hall and a number of other leisure venues around the region – has already carried out a series of significant investments at its properties in recent years. Investments have included the opening of an additional wing of rooms, a second championship golf course, an award-winning spa and a collection of luxury treehouses at Ramside Hall.
Now the firm’s owner John Adamson has revealed in the latest accounts how it is planning further investments, having completed several projects put on hold during the pandemic, including five new Ramside treehouses and two new deluxe bedrooms at The Impeccable Pig boutique hotel and restaurant in County Durham.
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In a report accompanying accounts for the year ending 30 November 2021, Mr Adamson said: “The business remains in a strong position to trade going forward and now expects to continue with future development plans that were temporarily paused due to the pandemic.
“The directors plan for continuous growth of the business, with plans to invest further in treehouses and lodges in addition to further developments to make the business more of a resort. These developments will further improve the hotel and leisure offerings ensuring the business remains competitive in the market.”
Accounts for the firm, which also owns Colonel Porter’s bar and restaurant in Newcastle, show a welcome return to profit following a challenging period of enforced lockdowns and none of its regular events.
The group reported a pre-tax profit of £3.5m, compared to a loss of £1.16m the year before. Turnover was up from £15.36m to £23.3m. During the year its also received £1.76m in Government grants, compared with £2.32m the year before.
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The accounts added how the firm has traded at “exceptionally high volumes” following the easing of restrictions in May 2021, allowing all its venues to generate significant profits over the period to the end of the financial year.
It added: “This greatly aided the business’s ability to recover from the pandemic as it allowed the business to operate as normal and to full capacity at all venues generating significant profits over the period to the end of the financial year. Major events which had not been permitted in previous years such as Hardwick Festival, Oyster Festival, weddings, general functions and conferences were able to resume which were the main drivers in this demand.”
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