York’s first five-star hotel is nearing completion. Today, in the first of an occasional series, the general manager of the Cedar Court Grand, Andrew Coney, speaks to The Press.

ONLY eight weeks to go, a busy seven days ahead and a blood pressure test looming at the end of the week – relax, it’s all coming together nicely.

Another shopping spree opens the week.

This time its 600 bath robes (enough for two in every room and plenty of stock to cover the cleaning cycle.

I don’t think this is the type of establishment where they will “walk”, which puts me in mind of a colleague who once threatened to put each of his bathrobes on a tough elastic band to allow access around the bedroom but no further.

Also acquired, more than a hundred beds, a chandelier, 40 bicycle racks and 320 cushions.

Back on site, work continues at a pace with more than 130 builders now actively creating the reality of the city’s first five-star hotel.

Most of the bedrooms are now decorated and carpets are being laid, requiring everyone to wear fetching blue slipper covers over their steel toe-cap boots. I spent some time on Wednesday designing the layout for the Butler’s Pantry, racking my brains for what a 21st- century Jeeves needs. Then I walked into all 107 bedrooms with our artwork supplier and agreed what each room needs. We are looking at some stunning prints of Yorkshire and of scenes that evoke our rail heritage.

I took a hard-hat tour with a client wanting to take exclusive use of the hotel in May and hopefully reassured them that we are very much on target for being ready in time.

The pressure mounts and the finishing line looms, but first a long overdue visit to the surgery for that blood pressure test.

A punctured car tyre on route and I arrive flustered and the doctor is sceptical about bothering especially given he knows my work circumstances too. 120/89 – perfect! Must be thriving on the adrenalin.