Restaurant and pub planned for Ilkley's Crescent Hotel (From Ilkley Gazette)

Restaurant and pub planned for Ilkley's Crescent Hotel

10:00am Friday 25th June 2010

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One of the most prominent Ilkley town centre landmarks will reopen its doors next February, housing a French restaurant, real ale pub and guest bedrooms.

The Crescent Hotel closed earlier this year, and refurbishment work is under way at the 19th century hotel building on Brook Street.

As revealed by the Gazette last week, independently owned restaurant chain Le Bistrot Pierre plans to open its ninth bistro at the Grade II listed Crescent.

More plans for the historic hotel building have now been revealed, as well as the planned opening date of February 2011.

The building will also house The Crescent Pub, being marketed as a traditional look-and-feel pub, with a dining capacity for 40 people. There will also be 11 guest bedrooms, maintaining the building’s traditional use.

The pub and guest bedrooms business will be operated by Le Bistrot Pierre as the main tenant of the building.

The upper floor of the Crescent is being converted to apartments.

The Crescent was previously owned by Liverpool brewery, pub and hotel chain Cains, and was acquired by local businessmen after the chain went into administration.

It continued to run as a hotel and bar for a year, operated by the last manager of the hotel, closing down earlier this year.

London-based designer Robert Angell has been brought in to work on the interiors of the Crescent building. Robert has worked on a number of prestigious and luxury restaurants and hotels in the UK.

He said: “Dating back over 150 years, the listed Crescent building is in a very prominent position in Ilkley and retains some of its original features such as a grand staircase, sash windows, high ceilings, decorative mouldings and panelling, all of which will be enhanced by the new interior scheme.

“The renovation is an exciting project as the building will be designed to provide a collection of well considered spaces to enhance the lives of those living in and visiting Ilkley by offering a spectacular environment in which to relax and spend time.”

Robert says the refurbishment is currently concentrating on restoring all of the original windows and replacing frosted glass with clear glass, to allow more light into the main dining area of the restaurant. The theme of the design is a traditional French bistro with a contemporary twist.

“This will compliment the listed building and maximise the original features,” he said.

In keeping with the new tenant, the refurbished guest rooms are also to be given a French look and feel.

The chain plans to work alongside several local micro brewers to offer real ales in the pub.

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