Leeds set to spread wings.

EAGLESCLIFFE entrepreneur Jeremy Leeds has revealed he is in discussions to buy a hotel in Whitby as part of a five-year plan to develop a portfolio of luxury retreats in the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire.

Mr Leeds, who led a management buy-in of the Best Western Parkmore Hotel & Leisure Club in Eaglescliff in March 2007, said the Whitby business "had potential to develop into a boutique-style hotel" as the Parkmore had done, with stand-alone brasserie and leisure club for non-staying guests.

He said: "The fastest-growing part of the industry is the boutique market. I specialise in turning middle-of-the-road hotels into very good ones.

"Many people buy hotels because they like staying in them, but they don't know how to run them properly."

Mr Leeds has more than 30 years' experience of the industry and has managed hotels all over the UK. He is in the middle of a two-year refurbishment programme at Parkmore, revamping the restaurant, function rooms, reception area and bedrooms.

He aims to boost turnover from pounds 2.2m to pounds 3m by targeting the conference market and organising tribute nights to increase weekend revenues.

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