A PROMINENT Lake District hotel has been sold after receiving permission for use as staff accommodation.

Ravensworth Hotel at Windermere is set to be converted and reutilised for staff accommodation.

The property 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 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, which has been building its 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.”

The Ravensworth is situated close to Windermere and the town of Bowness-on-Windermere, two of the most sought-after locations in the national park and heavily reliant on the tourist trade. 

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.”