go the whole hog and apply for planning consent to build a further 10-12 bedrooms with a function room, larger kitchen, lift and new reception area to turn us into a proper hotel. This was granted in 2014.
I then had to make the decision as to whether or not I should actually start this project, I knew how hard it would be with proper finance and a team of builders, let alone doing it with 2 labourers and myself and no money.
The thing is, deep down I always knew that I had no choice, I had to start building.
The 14 bedrooms we had could not generate enough to cover the overheads unless Gill and I continued to do literally everything ourselves.
I also knew that once I started I had to complete it and it was going to take me at least 3 years of non-stop hard work, once again using only the money that Gill could generate from the hotel and functions, the last of our savings and our credit cards.
It was at this point people started to tell me that it would be impossible to build this extension by myself with just the help of 2 labourers, Paul and Matt.
As you can see from the photos, I proved them all wrong.
I know you may find this hard to believe but I have done at least 90 % of the skilled work, including designing the building, laying every brick and block, constructing the roof, fitting all the windows and final decorating. I mean everything! Paul and Matt did 100 % of the tough job of labouring for me, I’ d like to say thanks to both of them.
We passed all the building inspector checks with flying colours.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank firstly Gill for all her hard work running the hotel and secondly all those people who have helped me achieve the impossible, Mark Waldron, friend and structural engineer, Raj, the world’ s
nuttiest plumber, Terry, the world’ s fastest plasterer, Colin Hatton, the world’ s best tiler, Phil Baker for his help with the floor screeds and Nigel for getting the windows at the right price.
But most of all to those who said I couldn’ t do it, thank you.
Thank you for reading this, it just leaves me to say a very big thank you to Chris
Keightley for allowing me to tell my story and best of luck with the magazine.
One more thing, yes, I am nuts!! Steve Cuddy.
Grimscote Manor Hotel, Lichfield Road, Coleshill, B46 1LH. TEL: 01675 464 222 EMAIL: info @ grimscotemanor. co. uk WEBSITE: www. grimscotemanor. co. uk
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