A hotel in the Lyth Valley which reopened after an 18 month period has had booming business ever since.

Lyth Valley Hotel, near Kendal, is Steve and Karen Edmondson’s second Lake District hotel and opened its doors in July.

A total of 15 jobs were created after the renovation which saw the interior of the pub completely redeveloped and the number of bedrooms reduced from 15 to nine.

Owners, Steve and Karen Edmondson also own Winster Valley Brewery and The Brown Horse Inn in Winster, South Lakeland.

Mr Edmondson, said: “This was a big project over an 18-month period which has involved significant investment. The final result is better than we could have ever imagined.

“We have reduced the number of rooms from 15 to nine, which are all en suite with baths and showers and we have put in a balcony at the back where people can sit out and enjoy the views.

“The feedback from visitors so far has been extremely positive and we have very high hopes for the future of this venture.”

Kendal-based accountancy and business advisory firm Moore and Smalley advised the couple in a number of areas including support in the initial stages of the purchase and capital allowance claims.

Colin Johnson, partner at Moore and Smalley, said: “For the last four years we have worked with Steve at his first hotel, the Brown Horse, in a number of areas including monthly account management, VAT returns and the annual accounts.

“The Lyth Valley project has been about two years in the making. We advised Steve from the very beginning when he first had the idea of taking on the hotel, we worked with him on the projections to make sure the business would be viable. “The finished hotel looks great and I’m sure it will be a huge success – it is exactly what the area needed.”