A PIECE OF HARROGATE'S HOSPITALITY HISTORY

Standing proudly in the centre of the spa town of Harrogate is The Crown Hotel.

This glorious Victorian exercise of Italian Renaissance in sandstone has a long and distinguished history that goes back to the early 1600’s when visitors first began to drink the waters of the worlds’ strongest known Sulphur Well in Harrogate.

It is thought it was named The Crown around the mid 1600’s when a much smaller inn overlooked the Sulphur Well to the west. Since then, The Crown thrived reaching ‘gigantic proportions by the time Lord Byron and his ‘string of horses, dogs and mistresses’ were guests in 1806.

The Crown is almost the most likely place were famed authoress Maria Edgeworth stayed in 1826, when she enjoyed the company of the great scientist Sir Humphrey Davy.

The Crown, at that time, was more like a miniature village than a hotel and had its own farm, workshops, laundry, extensive stables with a team of blacksmiths, masons and bakers.

In 1847 the central section of The Crown was rebuilt in neoclassical design and in the late 1800’s the Georgian wings were removed and replaced with a powerful pair of Italian Renaissance replacements.

The hotel hosted the rich and famous in Edwardian times with Elgar staying there in 1912. In 1939 it was taken over by the government and re-opened to visitors in 1958.

The Crown Hotel is one of the best situated hotels in Harrogate. It’s set between the Valley Gardens and overlooks the Montpellier roundabout. It’s a short stroll from Betty’s Café Tearooms, The Royal Hall, Victorian Arcades, the town’s fashionable boutiques, The Conference Centre and the wonderful retail therapy available in the town.

Parking is great at the hotel but do remember to pre-book – its right in front of the hotel. After parking the car we entered The Crown . I can only describe it as like stepping back in time to another era.

The large foyer has a great vintage ambience. There are large pillars and a chandelier hangs from the ornately decorated plaster ceiling and the whole large area is filled with leather Chesterfields and arm chairs that are outrageously comfortable.

In no time we had checked in at the retro oak reception desk and were on our way to our Executive Room.

The en-suite room was large and had a living area with a comfy sofa and tables but the furnishings and décor were rather tired and in need of an upgrade. I loved the large sash windows and the rooms high ceiling which gave it atmosphere. Our kingsize bed was blissfully comfortable with crisp linen sheets.

After a short walk round the town we headed back to the hotel where we had dinner in The Churchill Suite

This was the hotel’s former ballroom and is a very grand room, beautifully decorated it has stained glass windows but its oak furnishings make it rather dark – however the clever lighting gives it a wonderful air of romantic nostalgia.

The service was swift and good with the restaurant manager introducing himself to us explaining the various dishes on the menu.

My partner opted for the Potato, Onion and Garlic Soup with came with a warm bread rolls. The soup was hot, just as it should be, and had a very smooth texture and was just what was needed on a cold wintery evening.

I ordered the Beetroot Salad and what a treat this was This consisted of tomatoes, onion, lettuce and lots of walnuts with pomegranate – that gave a wonderful touch, delicious pickled apple and of course beetroot.

For mains I decided on the Roasted Seabass which came with crushed new potatoes and grilled courgette and a white wine cream which I asked for on the side. This was a decidedly small portion and the fish although cooked as it should have been had a rather strange taste.

My partners Gammon Half Moon was also a very very small portion but was cooked well and came with tomato, mushroom, chips and pea shoot salad.

The size of the portions of fish and gammon were some of the smallest I have ever experienced and were bad value for the prices charged for those two particular dishes.

Our dessert offering was very good and flavoursome. I had the Pecan Tart which came hot and with a toffee sauce. The pastry on the tart was crisp and the filling was chewy and overflowing with nuts.

My partner chose the Strawberry Cheesecake which was smooth and full of flavour and the plate was full of tempting extras that made the dessert one to treasure.

After dinner we sank into the wonderfully comfy chairs in Henry’s Bar which is perfect for a nightcap and if you sit in one of the window seats you can watch the world go by in the moonlight.

Next morning we had booked an Executive Breakfast in The Place. This is part of the hotel the overlooks the Pump Room Museum and is the perfect place for a relaxed breakfast in really comfortable contemporary surroundings that give a different vibe to if you had opted to breakfast in the Churchill Suite. The Place has its own outside entrance which leads to the side of the Pump Room with tables and chairs where you can eat alfresco or sip a cocktail or cappuccino if the weather is warm and sunny

Here there is a great menu and your breakfast is served to your table and breakfast service is available up until 11.00am. There’s some great things on the menu from a multi choice continental breakfast, light bites including toasted crumpets topped with cheese, to breakfast sandwiches to four different kinds of eggs on toast.

But if you want the works of a Yorkshire Breakfast then this comes highly recommended and there’s also a vegan version which according to another diner is ‘absolutely wonderful’ .

I loved the atmosphere here and our server was absolutely brilliant. The Place is open during the day for light meals and snacks and in the evening it takes on the guise of a bar.

After breakfast and a quick walk round the Valley Gardens it was time to leave The Crown. But as I checked out I had one question to ask the very friendly and knowledgeable reception staff. With so many mentions of Churchill did he ever stay here during the war? The answer was a simple ‘no’ but they did share the information that tunnels were made from The Crown to The Old Swan and still exist. Perhaps if things had taken a turn for the worst Churchill was going to make his HQ at the Crown and if invaded gone by tunnel to The Old Swan Hotel for his escape. But that theory is just in the imagination of this writer, journalist and author.