Northumberland Castle Urges Boris to Bring Bed Knights Back by January

A Northumberland castle hotel is crusading for its county’s hospitality sector and sending out a message that the county, which is so dependent on tourism, needs its bed knights back as soon as possible and on a long-term basis.

Langley Castle Hotel, has done everything in its power to work within the various restrictions imposed since March, adopting positivity at every turn.  It says it recognises it probably cannot return to a Tier-2 level right now but does need to see that happening in January or February.  It says such action is crucial, if the NE hospitality sector is to survive.  

Langley Castle is offering to welcome Boris Johnson to the castle and demonstrate how it has put all the right defences in place and how its guests play their part in making hospitality tick, despite coronavirus.  It enjoyed a 97% occupancy rate after the first lockdown and feels itself well-placed to demonstrate how hospitality can continue to operate, if the right defences are put in place.

The castle is continuing to be agile in its response to restrictions and urges others to do the same.  Prior to being put into Tier 3 a few weeks ago, it had rearranged 8 weddings for the month of December, had arranged a combined Christmas lunch and clay pigeon shooting experience, within the regulations, and had concocted a New Year’s Eve socially distanced event.

When none of this became possible, it again adopted the strategy of working within what is possible, rather than being downbeat about what is not, and created Wedding Tiers, whereby brides and grooms could marry, with up to 15 guests but without a reception.  The Wedding Tiers see the couple having to take away a hamper, rather than enjoying a meal but Langley Castle’s creativity has at least enabled them to wed and this option has been much appreciated.

With seven-feet-thick walls that have been proven to be the best of defences for 670 years, plus 10 acres of grounds and a wholly rural location, Tier 3 regulations are a siege the castle can, quite reasonably, feel it unfair to face, but it has got on with things, putting exciting plans into the pipeline. 

Now, Langley Castle would like to see the January and February period being one in which the Government does all it can to let accommodation providers open their doors again. It would like to see the “bigger regions” approach to Tier allocation rejected, so that at least some parts of Northumberland could accept visitors. This more localised approach to restrictions has only happened in Berkshire, to date, so Langley wants to see Northumberland becoming the new Berkshire, once Christmas is over.[1]

Executive general manager, Margaret Livingstone-Evans, says: “We must get our bed nights back as fast as possible and, in our case, our Bed Knights, so we can again offer visitors a safe, stay-in-a-castle experience that ticks every health and safety box but still provides an exquisite memory. 

“Jobs depend on this and jobs are hard to come by in our rural location.  We need common sense to apply and we need Northumbrians to do their bit and help bring the infection rate down to a level at which Northumberland can become the new Berkshire and have a more localised imposition of restrictions, rather than North East-wide ones.  At least if some accommodation providers can accept guests, we can start to get the tourism pound circulating through the local Northumbrian economy.

“Here at Langley Castle, we shall continue to improvise, adapt, work within what is possible and not let coronavirus beat us.  We just need a little more wiggle room in 2021 and an early lift on overnight stays would be just the tonic the sector requires from the Government.  Whenever that happens, we are literally raring to go, with all defences in place.”

To support the castle through a future booking, visit www.langleycastle.co.uk          

[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55145619

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Editors notes

Langley Castle, built in 1350, is located in Langley-on-Tyne, Northumberland and is one of the few authentic, fortified medieval castles in England. It has a rich history, with strong links to Jacobite rebellions, is located just a stone's throw from the World Heritage Site of Hadrian's Wall and boasts features including battlements, seven-feet-thick walls, window seats set into the walls and the best example of medieval garderobes in Europe. It is one of the most exquisite wedding venues in the north and also offers a wide range of options when it comes to exclusive use, with the castle being available for weddings, family celebrations, Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs, D&D-style events and a wide variety of corporate functions.