North Yorkshire Council investigates Nidd Hall Hotel

As the Press recently reported, Nidd Hall just north of Harrogate, closed for 24 hours from 9am on December 22, reopening for check-in on December23.

This followed guests reporting symptoms linked to norovirus, including sickness and diarrhoea.

The hotel said the closure period was ‘pre-planned’ as per its standard trading pattern, which also allowed time for enhanced precautionary cleaning in line with its established health protocols.

RECOMMENDED READING:
Warner Leisure Hotels re-opens Nidd Hall after illnesses

Warner recruits for Nidd Hall Hotel, Harrogate, ahead of reopening

A spokesperson said last week: “We temporarily closed the hotel for a 24-hour period as a precaution after some guests reported symptoms consistent with norovirus, which has been circulating widely in the local area.”

“The hotel was immediately deep cleaned in line with public health guidance, and affected guests were supported. The hotel has since reopened.”

Following our recent story, the Press received a number of emails from hotel guests who said they fell ill after the hotel re-opened, adding many elderly people were affected.

One told the Press her elderly mother fell ill on Boxing Day and the pair isolated in their room.

She added: “I learned from several other guest that almost 50% of the occupants of our section of the hotel had the same illness, many other guests were also ill, there had been vomiting in public places such as the restaurant and theatre.”

The guest added she complained to both Warner Hotels and North Yorkshire Council about the matter, adding there are other similar complaints on the Tripadvisor review website for Nidd Hall.

North Yorkshire Council’s corporate director of environment, Karl Battersby, told the Press: “We have received reports from the public and we are working with the management team at the hotel. As this is an ongoing investigation, we cannot comment further.”

A spokesperson for Warner Hotels said today (Monday) they had nothing to add to last week’s statement.

That statement said the hotel was now back open for hotel guests. The leisure club, including the sauna and steam room, remained closed to leisure members and external day visitors.  

The company believed there was no evidence that this incident was linked to hygiene standards at the hotel.

However, in line with company policy, the hotel said it continued to follow strict and robust cleaning standards and sanitization including implementing enhanced levels of cleaning chemicals and solutions.

The hotel had also introduced adapted ways of serving to further minimize possible high touch point areas including operating a ‘served buffet’ model, last week’s statement added.

Nidd Hall, in the village of Nidd, is 45 set in acres of lush parkland. The Grade II listed mansion was built in the 1820s for Benjamin Rawson, a wealthy Bradford wool merchant. It’s rumoured to be the location where Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson first met.