Broomhill Estate is steeped in history, but its new fibre broadband connection is helping its owners realise their vision for the future of the business.
Although the hotel is located just a couple of miles outside of Barnstaple its woodland estate gives it a distinctly rural feel. That was certainly one of the main attractions for Alex and Michele Kleiner when they bought the business a couple of years ago, but they were also aware that it would make getting a decent broadband connection something of a challenge.
The hotel has been reimagined into a boutique destination by the couple and its regeneration into a sanctuary for the arts is now complete with an ultrafast full fibre connection, installed by Airband as part of Connecting Devon and Somerset’s (CDS) fibre rollout.
Manual bookings over the phone used to be the norm at Broomhill, but guests can now rely on online bookings for a room at the hotel or when reserving a table at Broomhill’s Canvas Restaurant.
The full fibre broadband has also added an extra dimension to the visitor experience at Broomhill with each of the hotel’s seven boutique bedrooms, which are all curated on arthouse movie themes, now able to stream TV and film.
Alex Kleiner, CEO of Broomhill Estate, said: “This is a rural part of the UK and some services haven’t been available, but to have fibre has transformed what we’re able to offer. Everything we do is electronic.
“Over the years bookings were taken over the phone. We now have VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). Multiple rooms can stream Netflix. Music is playing throughout the property in different areas, all wireless.”
“We’ve got a mesh network throughout the park where people can look at QR codes to learn about the sculptures. In the past, none of this was possible,” admitted Alex.
“Fibre broadband has made a substantial difference to the way we run the business. The business would not be able to meet the aspirations we have without fast broadband access.”
Bringing the fibre network to the Broomhill Estate wasn’t exactly straight forward for Airband. The installation required traffic management on the busy B3230 between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe while tree surgery work was carried out next to the road. This enabled the installation of overhead cabling to the main hotel building.
“Airband’s purpose is to bring great broadband to country communities that can enhance lives and boost businesses,” said Redmond Peel, Chief Executive of Airband. “We work to upgrade rural locations throughout the UK, but I don’t think we’ve ever experienced a location quite like the Broomhill Hotel. Together with Connecting Devon and Somerset, we’ve met the challenge, and we hope this brilliant business can now become a (Velvet) Goldmine for the region!”
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