Former Hotel du Vin GM creates boutique hotel company Bonne Nuit

Lawson, who left Hotel du Vin two years ago to pursue his dream of opening his own hotel company, bought the 23-bedroom hotel from HRH Group last month with the help of two private investors. 

A phased refurbishment of the 19th Century property will start in July with completion expected by November. The hotel will remain open throughout. 

Lawson, who has more than 12 years experience in the industry, told BigHospitality The Balmoral's new style would form the blueprint for a brand that he and his investors were aiming to roll out rapidly. 

“When the Balmoral was first launched in the ‘70s it was all about great food, top notch service and a fantastic historic setting," he said.

"We’re going to refresh that approach and once again make the hotel one of Harrogate’s top eating and drinking venues offering unique product delivered by knowledgeable, genuinely hospitable staff.  

“We have some big investments to make into the building and the rooms but great quality food and drink will be the core of what we offer when we finalise plans and redesign the bar and dining areas later in the summer.

"We want to get the concept and the structure right with this hotel, so we can ensure both myself and my business partners know what we need to do with other hotels."

Bonne Nuit​

Lawson said the Bonne Nuit brand, born out of a desire to provide the 'grass roots of hospitality' would be more about standards than style with each property taken on allowed to 'have its own identity'. 

"Bonne Nuit will be like a management company that will be more about providing the fundamentals of hospitality," he said. 

Lawson, who is director of Bonne Nuit, and his unnamed investors are already looking at other sites in Yorkshire, Chester and Bristol with the aim of expanding 'quite quickly' over the next five years. 

"We have identified that there are great properties up for grabs," he said. "We want to get things right in Harrogate, but also move quickly to establish the brand.

“Right now, the priorities are to bring a high quality and service focus to the management of the hotel and look after our guests really well as we plan the investment."