Ex-BBC broadcasting centre set to re-open as luxury 50-room hotel

A Worcestershire-based ex-BBC broadcasting centre is to be re-opened as a luxury hotel at the end of the month following a £4m restoration project.
 
The Wood Norton, which is situated a few miles from the Cotswolds and Stratford-Upon-Avon, will be hosting a champagne reception on 29 November to officially re-open the 50-room hotel and restaurant.
 
“The building is steeped in history, having been built originally as a hunting lodge for European Royalty in 1897,” the GM of The Wood Norton, Oliver Cooke, says. “It’s since been the home of the BBC for over 60 years, and we’re now looking to create our own piece of history by turning it into a fantastic get-away.
 
“The building looks fantastic, and will make for a great place for business professionals to eat and stay,” he adds.
 
The BBC bought the site in 1939 to establish an emergency broadcasting centre away from London. It became one of the largest broadcasting centres in Europe with an average output of 1,300 programmes a week. When the war was over, Wood Norton became the BBC’s engineering training centre.
 
The Wood Norton was also used for some of the filming of the Doctor Who serial Spearhead from Space and it was later used for all of the location filming for another Doctor Who series Robot, where Tom Baker made his first appearance as the much loved time lord.
 
Peter Luff Member of Parliament for Mid Worcestershire, along with the Mayor of Evesham, Cllr Robert W Raphael and the Mayor of Pershore and Cllr Charles Tucker, will be in attendance at the re-opening. They will be joined by members of the BBC, business professionals and local residents.
 
Throughout the evening there will also be a live jazz band, plus head chef Gary Wheeler will be providing live demonstrations and talking through the hotel’s food offerings.
 
Any conference-related news? Email sarah@mashmedia.net