A Lake District inn has reopened following a major revamp.
The Wateredge Inn in Ambleside was bought by The Inn Collection Group in March 2021 for an undisclosed sum.
It has been undergoing renovations since October last year and joins The Angel Inn at Bowness and The Swan at Grasmere in emerging from a multi-million-pound facelift.
As part of the work, the next-door Regent Hotel has been absorbed by The Wateredge Inn, with it now functioning as an annexe of the main site and renamed as Windermere Rooms.
Operating to a model successfully employed with Oakbank House at Bowness, the switch has seen The Regent’s redundant reception and public areas replaced by new room spaces, with guest services such as check-in and breakfast now hosted at The Wateredge Inn.
Working with national architects GSSArchitecture, the new-look inn has had extensive work carried out on its bar and restaurant areas, as well as a total refurbishment of its guest bedrooms which continues to progress.
Retaining a unique character befitting of its position of prominence at the head of England’s largest lake, the new look of the property has been created in partnership with Design North.
It is the third site to date that has seen their expertise employed to rejuvenate an existing site, having previously worked with The Inn Collection Group on The Northallerton Inn and The Angel Inn.
External project management and employer’s agent services were provided by Fitzsimons Ltd, mechanical and electrical design by Sine Consulting and civil engineering design was provided by Northpoint Consulting.
Adopting a phased reopening due to the comprehensive nature of the work, the first stage has seen both the bar and restaurant return to service along with a selection of rooms offering stunning views out over Windermere.
These were enjoyed for the first time in six months by visitors over the bank holiday weekend that saw King Charles III crowned at Westminster Abbey, with general manager Andy Black hailing the return of guests to his site.
Andy said: “We’ve had a really good few days and it has been a real homecoming for both staff and customers alike. We have a happy team who are thrilled to be back at their Inn and we’ve had really satisfied customers.
“They have all been full of praise for the quality of the refurbishment, which looks amazing and we have had a good mix of first-time visitors and people who have come to us for years.
“We’re now looking forward to a really good summer and the rest of the rooms coming back into use in the coming weeks.
With a sprawling waterside beer garden offering views of the lake and the bustling steamer pier, The Wateredge Inn also has the unusual feature of its own private jetty, making it the perfect destination for boaters on the water for a refreshment stop.
Once complete, The Wateredge Inn will boast 70 rooms across its associated buildings and will be complete by mid-July.
