The future of Keswick’s Lake District National Park Authority-run tourist information centre is hanging in the balance.
For more than 20 years the centre in the Moot Hall has served millions of visitors to the town and surrounding national park.
But now its future is uncertain due to a potentially significant increase in rent from the owner of the hall – The Battersby Trust – when the authority’s lease comes to an end in March.
On top of this the authority also faces an 8.2 per cent cut in its core funding alongside increases in other operating costs.
An authority spokesman said: “It is becoming increasingly difficult to balance the cost of providing an information service from the Moot Hall.
“The current financial pressure on the authority means we are having to take difficult decisions to prioritise what we can and can’t deliver for the people, nature and sustainability of the national park.
“Although The Battersby Trust has started marketing the lease of the Moot Hall, we are continuing negotiations, alongside exploring alternative options.
“We remain committed to supporting visitors in the Keswick and north Lakes area and will keep staff and the community informed as we move through this process.”
The Moot Hall office is available to let for £48,000 a year.
A report by The Battersby Trust was presented to a meeting of the town council which said that negotiations have been ongoing with the Lake District National Park Authority regarding an extension of their lease beyond March 2026.
“At the present time they have advised that they are unable to commit to a long term agreement,” said the report prepared by the town council’s trustee, Cllr Steve Harwood.
“As a consequence the trustees have appointed Carigiet Cowan as agents to test the market on possible alternative tenants.
“There has been some interest expressed which the trustees are currently considering in the context of the aims of the charity.”
Mr Harwood said that the Moot Hall is currently leased by the Lake District National Park Authority, which uses part of the space for tourist information, and runs until March 31 2026.
“Discussions have been ongoing with the LDNPA for a renewal of the lease beyond that date, but they have advised they are unable to commit to a further long term lease due to financial constraints on their budgets going forward,” he said.
“A short term extension has been put forward but the LDNPA understands that what they are able to offer is well below market value and acknowledges that the trust may wish to consider alternative options.
“The income from the lease is vital to the trust’s ability to continue providing educational support grants to local families and other organisations.
“Not wishing to be left with an empty unused building, agents have been appointed inviting offers for a new lease from April 2026. A key element of consideration for any new tenants will be their plans for community use.
“This process is ongoing. The possibility of retaining a tourist information use will be suggested to applicants but it will be for them to decide if this can be accommodated within their overall plans for the building. Further details will be made known when decisions have been made.”
The Battersby Hall Trust is a charity which aims to use funds generated from leasing the Moot Hall and investment income to provide educational support grants to local families in need and projects put forward by Keswick School, local primary schools and other local organisations such as the youth centre, Keswick Scouts, Drop-in Centre, Keswick Lecture Society and others.
The tourist information centre provides free wifi, holds exhibitions throughout the year on the top floor while staff give advice on walking and cycling routes, attractions such as festivals, events and guided walks.
They also give travel advice for road, rail, bus and boat and sell maps, books, walks and cycling guides and sell gifts made or sourced in Cumbria plus greetings cards, postcards and postage stamps.
