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

Icelandic volcano delays opening of York’s first five-star hotel!

A week ago, The Press reported we were about a week behind our target opening date due to snow in January. I’ve just taken a call from a supplier to say he can’t get some chair fabric to us as it’s on a plane bound from Belgium that cannot take off due to the ash cloud.

So there we have it good people of York, you cannot take tea at the Grand on May 7 because of Eyjafjallajokull (sounds a little like an outbreak of something sinister). Worry not. We’ve actually found something to substitute and of better quality, right here in Yorkshire of course.

Bookings are now coming thick and fast, including our first wedding and a reservation for the Penthouse Suite for one very romantic gentleman. I will not break his cover, but rest assured, there is one lady out there in York soon to be seriously pampered, including 300 roses and breakfast in bed delivered by Anthony, her butler for the weekend.

Names seem to have been the preoccupation of the week. What do we call our restaurant, what do we call our 13 suites and what do we call our meeting rooms?

Everyone has an opinion. Do we maintain our links with the railways and our history, do we celebrate the city and the county or seemingly countless other alternatives. Names of white roses, famous trains, city landmarks. That’s it I’ve had enough, let’s be creative. Dinner in Eyjafjallajokull just rolls of the tongue and will no doubt be the talk of the city.

May 7, my PR gurus tell me, will be somewhat eclipsed by other news. The day after election day and after four weeks of constant coverage, television debates, polls and likely bickering we will be hanging on the every word of our newly-elected leaders and settling down to a new era of austerity and prudence. That’s unless of course you’ve decided to say “Blow that” and make your way over to the Grand for a glass of something very decadent instead. We look forward to seeing you, no plague of locusts permitting.