AN East Lancashire college will be the first in the country to run its own hotel.

Staff and students in the catering department at Accrington and Rossendale College, Accrington, will move into the former Platt Saco Lowell's Globe Enterprise Centre in Scaitcliffe Street on August 1.

A multi-million pound development is transforming the 100-year-old empty five-storey factory into a centre of excellence.

The college catering department is delighted that it will be the first in the country to run a hotel, with 10 bedrooms, on the top storey.

The college will also run its own restaurant and function room for wedding receptions with 70 restaurant seats available for weddings and 120 for other private events. Other facilities at the refurbished factory will include a conference centre and offices.

Head of the catering department Ian Ross said 120 students and 10 specialist staff from his department would be moving to the Platt's site.

Ex-students would be employed as support and it was hoped to attract many more students.

The prestigious development was being carried out by Globe Enterprises Ltd, a joint venture company in which Hyndburn Council has joined forces with Nelson-based Barnfield Construction, of Nelson.

Mr Ross said the catering department would also have a bakery, kitchen facilities and a 120-seater fast-food brasserie on the ground floor, operating under the name Traders.

The restaurant would trade under the name New Horizons and the building would be named The Globe Centre.

Two wedding receptions had already been booked and Christmas menus entitled Christmas From Around the Globe had been printed. Some evening functions would feature Food From Around the Globe with a worldwide theme.

Mr Ross added: "Everyone here is very excited at the move. We have been in Blackburn Road for about 20 years but we have been looking for new premises for some time.

"We are moving into the Globe on a long-term lease and students will get a bigger training ground and extra facilities will be provided. Our new home will be the ultimate in student attraction.

"We also run a successful horticultural course and will supply vegetables and herbs."

Anyone wanting more information about student training or to book private functions at the new premises should call Mr Ross on Accrington 354119.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.