Issue 58

Chester Zoo’s
New Luxury
Venue
FERGUS PERDIE ARCHITECTS / STERLING PLANNING PORTAL
Woodland Cabins
for Murrays’ Hotel
KIM MURRAY and tennis star husband Andy
have submitted plans for nine woodland cabins
to be constructed at their hotel in Dunblane.
The couple bought Cromlix for £1.8m in 2013
and are working with Fergus Purdie Architects
to create water-based, treetop and circular
woodland cabins.
It is hoped that some of the cabins will be
complete by late summer subject to planning,
which also includes the development of a
second standalone restaurant building.
Speaking to Boutique Hotelier, the couple,
who took over the management of the
hotel from Inverlochy Castle Management
International in December 2022, said they
are hoping to expand on the huge potential
of Cromlix with a ‘big masterplan with lots of
stages’.
“It is something we have thought about
(external investment),” says Kim, “but at the end
of the day we want to have complete ownership
over it and want it to be truly reflective of us.”
A NEW luxury wedding venue has
opened at Chester Zoo in a former
stable block which was once home to
lions, bears and chimpanzees. Known
now as The Square, the venue hosts
380 people and can be booked for
meetings and events. The zoo, which
has 27,000 animals, also hopes it will
be used for important global summits
on wildlife conservation.
Many of the patterns and textures
used throughout The Square draw
inspiration from endangered species
the zoo is working to protect.
Zoo conservationists say income
generated by every occasion held
at The Square will contribute to
its charitable efforts to prevent
extinction.
Jamie Christon, CEO at Chester
Zoo, said: “There’s nothing else
quite like this stunning new venue
anywhere in the UK. It’s an incredible
building that’s stood at the heart of
the zoo for approaching a century
and, through careful restoration, it’s
now been brought to life.
“It’s a one-of-a-kind space which
not only embodies the zoo’s rich
history and character, but offers
modern luxuries and comforts. And
what’s more, who wouldn’t want to
get married or have a company away
day surrounded by 27,000 animals?
“Most importantly, each and
every occasion that takes place
at The Square will contribute to
our charitable mission to prevent
extinction, helping us to secure a
brighter future for wildlife worldwide.
That’s what makes our new venue
incredibly special and we can’t wait
to start welcoming people to it.”
Bakery Equipment Recoveries Reach 13K
MORE THAN 13,000 Omega bread baskets and dolly equipment belonging to Bakers
Basco were recovered from festivals and outdoor events during 2022, following the
success of a targeted awareness campaign highlighting the environmental impact of
misplaced bakery equipment often left behind at festivals and outdoor events.
Bakers Basco was set up in 2006 by five of the UK’s leading plant bakers including
Allied Bakeries, Fine Lady Bakeries, Frank Roberts & Sons, Hovis and Warburtons –
representing more than 55% of the bakery market in the UK – to buy, manage and police
the use of a standard basket for the delivery of bread to retailers and wholesalers. The
company currently manages an equipment pool of approximately five million sturdy,
reusable Omega Baskets and 500,000 dollies, which are part of the circular economy.
During the course of 2022, Bakers Basco’s national investigations team visited close
to 100 locations across the UK, resulting in the successful recovery of 13,000+ pieces
of equipment, which often ends up in landfill or used for purposes for which it was not
designed. Key locations included Cheltenham, Chester, York and Rippon Racecourses
and Glastonbury Festival, as well as outdoor events up and down the UK.
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