A Lake District guest house has been bought so a hotel chain can convert it into staff accommodation.
The Ravensworth in Windermere closed its doors in 2020 and was on the market for £1.195 million.
Now, northern hotel chain the Inn Collection Group revealed it was turning the 12-bedroom guest house on Ambleside Road into rooms for its staff.
The chain operates 31 hotels, including the Angel Inn in Bowness, The Ambleside Inn, Lake House, Waterhead Inn, Temperance Inn and the Regent Hotel, all in Ambleside, Glenridding Hotel, the Pheasant at Bassenthwaite, the Coniston Inn and the Swan at Grasmere.
Sean Donkin, managing director of the Inn Collection Group, said: “We have acquired The Ravensworth to help ease the 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.”
Graham + Sibbald led the sale of the guest house, which was originally built in the 1850s as a family residence.
The Inn Collection Group has been granted planning permission to convert the guest house into staff accommodation.
Martin Davis, director of hotel and leisure at Graham + Sibbald, said: “Having sold the Glenridding Hotel in Ullswater to the Inn Collection Group 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.”
Nick Hood, the Ravensworth’s former owner, 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.”
