Last updated 14:35, Tuesday, 18 November 2008

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IT is going to be a busy Christmas and New Year season for the managers and 50 staff at the Abbey House Hotel, in Barrow.

The Abbey House has credit crunch fears, like every business just now, but it is continuing to do good trade, filling up on weekday nights with business travellers and sometimes strolling players, and managing to attract leisure travellers at the weekend.

A 30-year-old Scot, Paul Graham, is deputy to Catford and Longford hotel company general manager, Paul Conroy.

He is holding the fort while Mr Conroy concentrates on licking a recently bought second hotel into shape.

Catford and Longford has owned the Abbey House since 1986, and bought a second one, the Red Hall Hotel in Ramsbottom, Lancashire, in January.

For the company it is back to the way things used to be when the late Tim Kilroe owned both the Abbey House and the Four Seasons Hotel near Manchester airport, which he later sold.

Mr Kilroe’s widow, Loretta, now plays a key role in the company.

In Barrow at the Abbey House the battle lines are drawn to beat the credit crunch.

Paul says: “It does not appear to have hit us yet but it is only a matter of time, I should think, before it filters through. I think we will probably see less people dining on company expenses, having tightened their belts a bit more.

“We will have to try to find something to offer that people want to come out for.

“We are very happy with the product we offer, and we are getting a good steady flow of bookings for Christmas.”

The December bookings include eight weddings, with some going to receptions at the hotel after church ceremonies, but others are actually tying the knot inside the Abbey House.

The function rooms usually host 50 to 60 weddings a year.

Then there are all the Christmas parties arranged by friends or companies, a Santa Sunday when the jolly bearded man in red makes an appearance for the children at lunch, and also the formal lunches and dinners for Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, offered to members of the public at the hotel.

For instance, on New Year’s Eve there is a black tie dinner dance that anyone can go to which has five courses, champagne, a band called Night Shift, and fireworks (depending on the weather) and costs £67.50.

The 57 bedroom Abbey House is also laying on an £18 New Year Event with pie and peas.

The bedrooms are normally full on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with corporate guests visiting firms such as BAE, Kimberly-Clark, and the gas terminals, and then there are individual visitors and a trickle of tourists at the weekends.

Barrow AFC’s rise to the Conference Premier League has definitely been good for the hotel, with stays by visiting teams such as Burton Albion and Oxford United.

The hotel is also a good venue for star spotting. Performers booked for Forum 28 often stay there.

A recent guest was singing star Barbara Dixon, who the staff liked for being down to earth.

The Abbey House has some advantages trying to entice more tourists and spontaneous visitors to Barrow.

Not many hotels have a hillside path leading down to a glorious, red sandstone Cistercian abbey. The classy looking hotel stands behind dignified walls in 14 acres of land, much of it woodland.

The Abbey is just completing the refurbishment of 30 of its newest rooms over the extension.

Paul says hotels have to keep on top of redecoration. Worn-looking rooms put guests off.

As a rule of thumb, there is a revamp every three years.

Paul said: “If you don’t get on top of them they can look dilapidated and run down.”

Paul’s wife, Helen, is a Barrow lass, and Paul moved here to join her.

He said: “I like life down here. It’s a friendly place to live and there’s some nice golf courses here I can play.”

Of the skills needed in his line of business he says: “You have got to be always looking ahead to see what your competitors are doing around the UK, and then seeing if it can be adapted to the market here.

“I think The Abbey House Hotel is quite impressive. Certainly when you drive in through the gates people coming here for the first time think ‘wow’.”

The hotel has hosted a meeting of Lotus car owners from South Cumbria with nearly 40 Lotus cars, together worth a fortune, in the hotel car park.

The North West Porsche society did a similar event at the Abbey House, with 25 sleek Porches parked, oh so prettily.

Rooms range from £118 to £154 bed and breakfast but there are special offers at times including £125 for two people with dinner, bed and breakfast.

The food is also a draw. Lamb two ways – Cumbrian fell bred roast loin and braised shoulder of lamb with roast plum tomato, fondant potato and goats cheese for £19.95 – is one of the favourite dishes in the restaurant.

If push really came to shove the hotel has the space and facilities to simultaneously cater for say a reception for 280 in one function room and a wedding for 150 in another room. Then there would be room for about 76 diners, and 110 overnight guests.