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Teesside hoteliers invest to become greenest in region

A hotel in Runswick Bay near Whitby, run by a Middlesbrough couple, is planning to be the most environmentally-friendly in the region after investing in a number of ‘green’ measures.

The Cliffemount Hotel and Restaurant is owned and managed by husband and wife team, Ian and Carol Rae from Middlesbrough.

The couple bought the boutique-style hotel in 2005 and, since then have invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in a complete refurbishment. As part of their 10 year plan, a number of eco measures are now being introduced.

Ian and Carol have installed a biomass heating and hot water system which uses waste to produce electricity. This process is far less damaging to the environment as it doesn’t require fossil fuels and the carbon that is produced is part of the natural carbon cycle.

The biomass system has been installed in the grounds of the hotel by Duncan Renewables, from York, who specialise in eco-friendly initiatives. As well as the eco-friendly biomass system, The Cliffemount is now planning on installing solar panels.

In addition, Carol and Ian work hard alongside head chef, David Spencer, to keep food miles to a minimum by using local suppliers and producers where possible;- fish and seafood comes from local fishermen in Runswick Bay when in season, Dennis Crooks in Whitby, the Whitby Crab Company and Hodgson’s of Hartlepool; meat and poultry from Sykes House Farm in Beverly and R and J Butchers in Kirkby Malzeard near Ripon; some of the fruit and vegetables are supplied by the Easington Farm Shop; and eggs, poultry and rare breed pork comes from Martin Greenback from Bob’s Banteys in Mickleby, only two miles from the hotel.

The Cliffemount Hotel is an AA 3 star hotel and has 2 AA Rosettes for its restaurant, famed for its seafood all caught locally. Ian and Carol Rae have been in the hospitality sector for 30 years, having started with Camerons brewery in Hartlepool, and have run a number of well-known establishments across Teesside and North Yorkshire, including the infamous Rooney’s fish restaurant in Middlesbrough in the 80 and 90s and Dempseys on Albert Road in the town. The hotel has 20 rooms- all refurbished by an interior designer- with views over Runswick Bay.

Ian Rae said: “We’re trying our best to do our bit to help the environment. We’re in a very beautiful, unspoilt part of the world and that needs protecting however we can. It’s not all about being holier than thou about green issues, more making an effort in everyday life. Reducing food miles was an obvious option as North Yorkshire is blessed with some outstanding producers and suppliers so I work closely with our head chef to buy local wherever we can. But the new heating system really is reducing waste- and bills. It’s a win-win situation.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Addison Associates .