ONE of York’s most well-known inns has now completed a stunning multi-million pound extension.
The 4-star Guy Fawkes Inn at High Petergate has more than doubled its accommodation offering from 13 rooms to 27.
The Guy Fawkes Inn is said to be the birthplace of the notorious gunpowder plotter Guido Fawkes.
The venue is owned by the Harrogate-based Fat Badger Group, which owns a range of pubs and hotels in York, Harrogate, Whitby and Kirkby Fleetham.
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Overlooking York Minster, the new rooms came to market two weeks ago, selling out totally on some nights.
They are found in the building right next door to the existing Inn, which was previously the Jackson Stops offices.
The Fat Badger Group, then called HRH Hotels, bought the office building in 2021, but it took them three years, costing more than £100,000, to get planning approval.
In February 2024, the company finally gained planning approval and hoped for completion in time for Bonfire Night that year.
The company then saw it as a £1million-plus project, but the bill ballooned to more than £3million.
Simon Cotton, managing director of the Fat Bader Group, took the Press on a guided tour.
He told of how no expense had been spared on buying fine antiques but also new or modern pieces of furniture that looked old.
He pointed to little details, the windows, the coving, challenges with electrics, the tiling, carpeting, fancy bathrooms and so on, all creating a magnificent, elegant development that York can be proud of.
Simon said: “It was a five-year project. It’s the longest project we have ever had.”
“At least we are a commercially viable and successful enough group to fund it.”
“But the building is preserved for the future. It is a grade one listed building, converted from a multi-use office block to a hotel.”
Simon continued: “It is a remarkable transformation that has been done very sympathetically in line with English Heritage and local planners.
“It took over three years to get planning permission alone and two years to bring it to life. Now it’s got a completely new lease of life. We haven’t just refurbished it, we have protected it for years to come. It was in a poor state of repair.”
The Fat Badger Group enlisted heritage consultants on the scheme, eventually spending more than £3million on it.
Delays were caused by the lengthy negotiations with the various parties concerning work to heritage buildings of such importance, working out how to meet for example, fire regulations, whilst preserving the integrity of the fabric of the historic building. It wasn’t easy.
Simon said: “Looked purely as a commercial exercise, it probably would not have made sense five years ago. But once we got it, we had to carry on.”
“The finished product has certainly made it worthwhile. It has brought a special building to York in the best location with views of York Minster.
He added: “That coupled with the investment in extending the beer garden 18 months ago, has given the Guy Fawkes Inn a great opportunity to move on to another level and have a successful future.”
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