Luxury Windermere hotel offered to flood victims

A BUSINESSMAN is offering people affected by the floods free respite accommodation at his luxury Lake District hotel.

Colin Monk was moved to step in after seeing how badly people have been affected by Storm Desmond at the weekend. His Howbeck Retreat hotel in Windermere usually closes for 10 days in early December to allow staff a pre-Christmas break.

But he has temporarily opened the doors to people who need a dry bed, running hot and cold water and a break for a night from the destruction that flooding has caused.

Mr Monk, whose Bowness restaurant, Caffe Riva, was damaged but reopened in 48 hours, said: "It's the right thing to do.

"It's an 11-bedroom luxury five-star hotel which aims towards romantic couples. "People can get a shower, get clean and have a good night's sleep.

"The kitchen is not open but there is a lounge where people can relax."

The hotelier wanted the wider public to know that the Lake District was open for business.

"We don't want people thinking that they cannot get here - the best thing the public can do to help is to still come and support us," he said.

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