A Lake District hostel is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Elterwater Independent Hostel in Langdale is owned by Christine and Alan Thomas, who took over the venue from the YHA.
The hostel has welcomed over 50,000 people in 10 years and Christine and Alan held a party to celebrate the milestone.
Guests at the event included MP Tim Farron, and Sam Dalley, director of Independent Hostels UK.
Christine and Alan paid tribute to the staff, including manager Nick Owen, and assistant Charlie Spiller who stayed on having worked for the YHA.
Pete Savin, Andy Hunt and Lisa Jones are also long-serving members of the team.
Christine said that she and Alan had been looking for a holiday home in the Lakes, but ended up buying a hostel.
She said: “We had always loved Elterwater. I stayed at the hostel with a school friend, and Alan and I stayed in many cottages in the area.”
She said that friends had asked why they didn’t turn the building into a high-end restaurant or boutique hotel.
Christine added: “We’re passionate about hostelling and the access to nature and the outdoors that hostels provide.
“I love the atmosphere and the camaraderie that is created in this room when guests from different generations and walks of life get together with a shared love of the Lakes and the outdoors.”
