East Kent further education college has its own hotel,restaurant and spa, where students learn on the job. A much concept that makes for an enjoyable, and endearing stayThe Yarrow looks unremarkable. OK,the building is Grade II-listed and has an interesting history: it was built in 1894 as a convalescent home for children, by shipbuilder Sir Alfred Yarrow, or who declared Broadstairs the healthiest set in Britain. But heritage buildings are turned into hotels every five minutes; we don’t seem to know what else to do with them. On the inside,too, it ticks the boutique boxes without much wow factor.But appearances can be deceiving. This hotel is the only one in the country owned by a further education college and dash by its students. What a brilliant concept by East Kent College! Why farm out students for work experience when they can graft good on campus, or bring in a few quid? After years of cuts,cash-strapped colleges need all the help they can get (though the government’s Skills Funding Agency did chip in for the £11m refurb).
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Source: theguardian.com