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Prominent Lake District hotel sold to the Inn Collection Group after receiving permission for use as staff accommodation
Graham + Sibbald has led the sale of the prominent Ravensworth Hotel which is situated in the Lake District national park and which is set to be converted and reutilised for staff accommodation.
The property which was originally built in the 1850s as a family residence which was subsequently converted into a 12 bedroom hotel. The building has undergone significant refurbishment and reconfiguration over the years.
Sold off a guide asking price of £1,195,000, the Inn Collection Group have acquired the hotel and obtained planning permission to convert the hotel into accommodation for their staff.
Following the Global Pandemic and Brexit, there is a significant shortage of staff for hotels both nationally and particularly in the Lake District given the challenging housing costs. The Inn Collection Group who have been extremely active in building their portfolio of hotels and Inns over the last few years now have 31 sites across the North of England and North Wales. It is understood that the Inn Collection Group intend to encourage more people to come and live and work within the Lake District National Park by offering accommodation for its staff.
Sean Donkin, Managing Director of the Inn Collection Group who are owned by the Harris family Trust and backed by Kings Park Capital said: “At the Inn Collection, our success really stems from loving what we do – which is operating outstanding sites where our customers can eat, drink, sleep and explore from in exceptional locations – with a cracking team of people at all levels. The Lake District has so much to offer people from the UK and further afield, but the challenges around housing, especially for those working in the tourism sector are well known.
“We have acquired The Ravensworth to help ease that burden for our staff and to bring people into the community here as well as ensuring the best possible experience for the guests at our hotels throughout the Lake District region.”
Martin Davis, Director of Hotel + Leisure at Graham + Sibbald, said: “Having sold the Glenridding Hotel in Ullswater to the Inn Collection Group back in February, it was good to work with them once again on their acquisition of another prominent Lake District property.”
“It is great to see the Group and the local authority working together and using innovative thinking to come up with such a practical and sensible solution to the ongoing staff shortage problem in the Lake District tourism industry.”
The Ravensworth is situated close to Lake Windermere and the town of Bowness-on-Windermere, two of the most sought-after locations in the national park and heavily reliant on tourist trade. The property which has versatile accommodation as well as significant parking provision.
Nick Hood the former owner of the Ravensworth said: “It’s been a joy to be the custodian of The Ravensworth over the last 13 years and we are certain that it is in good hands. It is exciting to hear about the Inn Collection Group’s plans for the property and help bring more skilled people into the vibrant tourism industry in the Lake District.”
The Manchester office of Graham + Sibbald was the second of the company’s offices in England, after London and before the opening of a Birmingham office. The Manchester team has grown to more than 15 people and provides a range of commercial agency and hotel and leisure services to meet significant demand across the North of England.
Graham + Sibbald has more than 230 staff members and 23 Partners working across their 20 UK offices in Scotland and England.
