Bognor's Royal Norfolk braves recession by staying open

Potential buyers continue to sift through the books of the Royal Norfolk Hotel.

The keen interest is still being seen by Christ for the Nations UK, despite tough economic conditions, after the charity put the business up for sale for about 3m.

One would-be owner was shown round the seafront premises just before Christmas by the Rev Kevin Swadling, the hotel's managing director.

Another four hopefuls are at various stages of examining the finances of the hotel, where some 40 full and part-time staff work in the peak times, to see if a purchase can be arranged.

Mr Swadling said he had already turned down one offer for valuing the business and its prospects too cheaply.

"We are not in a situation which is desperate," he explained. "We are not going to sell at any price.

"We will still carry on running the hotel this time next year if no-one else comes forward with what we consider to be a suitable valuation. The hotel is successful and we want to see it continue to be run as a successful concern and to build on what we have achieved here.

"We live in the town as well as work here and we want to ensure the Royal Norfolk remains the prominent hotel in the town."

Mr Swadling is a founder of the Christ for the Nations UK charity which bought the hotel four-and-a-half years ago.

The intention was to combine the mid-19th century building's traditional guest accommodation with the HQ of a Bible college.

The Royal Norfolk is a grade two listed building to reflect its historic significance to Bognor. It has been the largest locally-owned hotel in the town for decades.

Christ for the Nations spent 1.6m on the purchase and then ploughed almost 1m into updating the building and its 40 bedrooms to three-star status.

But the hotel's popularity has seen the need for rooms for functions clash with the demands of the Bible studies.

This leads to tough choices being made between the profitable hotel uses being booked in or the Bible sessions which it subsidises.

The dual usage has caused Christ for the Nations to look elsewhere for its headquarters.

The organisation has signed a deal to buy the former St Michael's and All Angels Church in West Meads.

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