South Kesteven District Council has celebrated English Tourism Week (22-31 May) with a visit by councillors and officers to Grimsthorpe Castle to celebrate its 2021 post-lockdown opening.
Council Leader Cllr Kelham Cooke and colleagues saw for themselves how exciting developments will benefit the venue, including plans for a new public art gallery, a refurbished dining area and shop in the Old Stables, plus a new entrance and expanded car park.
The visit coincided with a heavy horse weekend, co-ordinated by Fawcett Driving Horses from Great Ponton, who will be at Grimsthorpe with their magnificent Clydesdale horses this summer to take visitors on carriage rides past the lake and across the Capability Brown landscape.
Cllr Rosemary Trollope-Bellew, SKDC Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy, said: “Our visitor economy businesses have had an incredibly difficult time during the pandemic.
“English Tourism Week highlights the importance, value and vast contribution the sector makes and we wanted to show our support for not only Grimsthorpe, but all our tourism businesses.
“We have been able to organise grant support for many tourism-related businesses through InvestSK, including Fawcett Driving Horses, so this really is a celebration of the sector throwing open its doors once more.
“It’s exciting to hear how Grimsthorpe is developing and to see a brilliant example of our tourism businesses working together to enhance the visitor experience.”
Stuart Fawcett and his father, Ian, provided the horse-drawn transport to see specialist exhibitions including horse logging, heavy horse training and horse shoeing.
Stuart launched Fawcett Driving Horses during the pandemic and grant support allowed him to innovate with his heavy horses ideas, helping his business to survive.
Cllr Cooke and Cllr Trollope-Bellew were joined by SKDC Deputy Leader Cllr Barry Dobson and his wife Gabriele, Chief Executive Karen Bradford, Director of Growth and Culture Nicola McCoy-Brown, and Lincolnshire County Council Tourism Manager Mary Powell.
Sebastian Miller, Director of the Grimsthorpe and Drummond Castle Trust, said: “Our trustees have launched a transformational revitalisation of the visitor experience at Grimsthorpe Castle, notably by partnering with one of Great Britain’s leading architects to create an exciting modern art gallery incorporating the latest energy efficient technologies.”
Joley Baker, Visitor Experience Lead at Grimsthorpe, said: “We are so excited to be welcoming visitors back this month after being closed all last year due to Coronavirus. The team has worked hard to get the site open and safe, and hopefully we will have a brilliant and successful season.”
For Visit Britain, Andrew Stokes said: “We asked local authorities to get involved and show their support by visiting local businesses and attractions during the week, and that’s exactly what South Kesteven District Council has done.
“By highlighting the quality and sheer diversity of tourism products, destinations and experiences across England, we hope people will consider an extra holiday at home this year, exploring somewhere new, or revisiting a favourite attraction.”
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