Legend has it that Bonnie Prince Charlie once spent a night at Hartington Hall, a Jacobean manor house on the outskirts of Buxton in Derbyshire. Guests checking into the seventeenth-century greystone building can occupy the oak-panelled double bedroom where the prince is said to have slept, though today it boasts such modern conveniences as an en suite shower and tea and coffee-making facilities.
'We've just spent £1.2 million on a refurbishment, but we've tried to keep the country-house ambience with the open fireplaces and polished limestone floors,' says manager William Greenwood. But this is no country-house hotel: it's a youth hostel and a night here will set you back a grand total of £13.75 per head.
Hartington Hall in Derbyshire narrowly missed out on a five-star grading in the English Tourism Council's new rating system for youth hostels, announced last week. It's one of 210 Youth Hostel Association (YHA) and independent hostels across the country that have been inspected and awarded between one and five stars depending on their levels of comfort, service, decor and facilities. No hostels made the five-star grade, but Hartington Hall is one of 14 to be awarded four stars.
An ETC spokeswoman said guests at a four-star youth hostel could expect a high percentage of rooms with en suite facilities, good quality decor and service, good food prepared using fresh, local ingredients and facilities ranging from adventure playgrounds and licensed restaurants to internet access. Many of the hostels offer single, double and family rooms as well as the usual dormitory style accommodation.
'This is all about driving up standards at the budget end of the market,' said an ETC spokeswoman. 'People's expectations have risen enormously. Even if they are staying some where simple they need to know what they can expect. Many people went hostelling as teenagers and will have memories of spartan and basic facilities. Things have changed a lot since then and some of the hostels today would be unrecognisable.'
Less than half of England's 548 hostels, bunk houses and camping barns in England are part of the scheme. The ETC plans a recruitment drive to bring more hostels on board.
Rates at YHA hostels start from £8.50 per adult per night and go up to £24. For under 18s the rates are from £5 per head per night to £20. YHA membership is £13 for adults, £6.50 for under-18s and £26 for families.
· For further information on YHA membership or a listing of YHA hostels contact 0870 870 8808, www.yha.org.uk. For a full listing of YHA and independent hostels see www.visitbritain.com.
