TGtB Meets?No.1 Royal Crescent

Following September 11th's glittering Bath Chronicle Business Awards 2014 held at Bath Racecourse, we caught up with No.1 Royal Crescent, one of the night's winners...

Congratulations on your win! Tell us a little bit about your business?

No. 1 Royal Crescent is a grand town house that creates a wonderfully vital picture of life in Georgian Bath, the only UNESCO World Heritage City in the UK. Built 1767-74, No. 1 was the first house to be built on the Royal Crescent which is justly considered to be one of the finest achievements of 18th century urban architecture. The house originally provided luxury accommodation for the well-to-do. It now provides visitors to the Crescent with an opportunity to see what life was like behind the famous Palladian façade, for both the wealthy and their servants in the 18th century. It is run by the Bath Preservation Trust, a charity which aims to help Bath remain a beautiful living city set in green countryside.

What does winning this award mean for you and your company?

Winning this award means a great deal to us, coming as it does so soon after winning national awards for our permanent collection, the quality of our historical education programme, and the gold award for best tourist attraction at Bath’s inaugural BEHTAs. Our thanks go to the judges and to sponsors Thrings and The Francis Hotel for recognising that charities have to be businesses too.

Why do you think you won?

I think the judges could see that our recent £5m restoration and renovation project was all about improving the visitor offer and thereby making the museum a more successful visitor attraction. We were supported in achieving this by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Brownsword Charitable Foundation and many other donors and supporters.  But this was a business award, not just a tourism award, and we provided a lot of evidence to show that our customer satisfaction ratings have increased dramatically, our staff and volunteers are better trained and we estimate that in the first six months of opening we brought £300,000 income into the local economy.

How are you planning to celebrate your victory?

Winning is its own reward as is the pride we take in having done so. We’ve already thanked our Trustees, staff and volunteer guides for all their hard work and support which is ultimately how we won this award.

Business is clearly booming, why do you think so many people visit Bath?

Bath has been a place of pleasure, well-being and creativity since, or probably before, the Romans. And as a World Heritage Site, Bath is of international importance and value, but also a living city. So whether you come to Bath to revel in the architecture or to shop or have a meal or run a business, your spirits can be lifted by the ambience of the city in all its guises. As a city we have got much better at getting that message out.

What's your favourite thing about Bath and why?

Morning sunlight on the buildings on a crisp autumn or spring day. It’s when you see Bath at its most ethereal.

Tell us a little bit about the role that you play within the business?

I’m the Chief Executive, so I’m responsible to the non-executive Trustee Board as the senior paid staff member for leading the team across the full range of our activities. I’m blessed with a small skilled and committed professional staff team as well as great volunteers whether Trustees , room guides or researchers in our archives.  Ultimately I see my role as enabling all these lovely people to give of their best to deliver Bath Preservation Trust’s charitable objectives and public benefit.

What advice would you give to someone looking to succeed in your industry?

As far as visitor attractions are concerned, listen and respond to your visitors and aim to exceed their expectations. From a charity point of view, you need to love the cause, because that’s the main reward.