A YORK hotel owner has revealed he has lost about £400,000 since the start of the pandemic. And plans to create a Covid-safe dining area to help the business survive could be scuppered - as the council has raised concerns that noisy racegoers might stop for a meal. Simon Cowton, of the St George’s Hotel in St George’s Place, is planning to put up eight temporary glasshouses and a pizza oven in the garden of the property. He revealed the challenges he has faced during the pandemic, which included turning away £4,000-worth of bookings in December from customers who wanted to visit York from areas in Tier 3 or 4.
I got cabin fever in lockdown … so I built my own beach hut Kevin Rushby
It started with a chance comment from York hotelier Simon Cowton during an interview. “I was getting depressed in lockdown,” he said. “I realised I had to have a project.” Simon’s solution was to start a building project. He set about redesigning his hotel garden as a magical support bubble-friendly outdoor restaurant.
When I got off the phone, Simon’s words were still in my head. His enthusiasm and energy had fired me up. I, too, needed a project and knew what I wanted for my lockdown sanity … I wanted to build a beach hut.
The writer building his cabin. Photograph: Kevin Rushby/The Guardian
The writer building his cabin. Photograph: Kevin Rushby/The Guardian
Few things say escape like a beach hut. After checking out some classic coastal designs â and remembering boyhood dens â Iâm making one in the garden
Sat 16 Jan 2021 02.00 EST
It started with a chance comment from York hotelier Simon Cowton during an interview. âI was getting depressed in lockdown,â he said. âI realised I had to have a project.â Simonâs solution was to start a building project. He set about redesigning his hotel garden as a magical support bubble-friendly outdoor restaurant.