Northumberland hotel group continues expansion with lakeside venue acquisition

A North East hospitality group has continued its expansion outside of the region with its newest acquisition.

Alnwick-based The Inn Collection Group has acquired The Waterhead Hotel in Ambleside in the Lake District.

The 38-bedroom venue - which has direct shoreline access and private grounds bordering Windermere lake near Ambleside - has been purchased by the hospitality group as it continues to grow its ‘pubs with rooms’ brand across the North.

Taking the group’s Lake District estate tally to eight, the venue will reopen as The Waterhead Inn on May 17 and continue trading, ahead of a planned refurbishment in 2022.

The Inn Collection Group’s managing director Sean Donkin commented: “We are thrilled to have completed on The Waterhead and to be bringing another extraordinary site into the group as we prepare for the expected staycation boom amid surging consumer demand for UK leisure destinations.

“It was our strategic vision as a group to more than double our freehold estate to 22 sites in 2021 and despite the intense challenges of the global pandemic, we have had our finger on the pulse to accelerate growth and realise our ‘buy and build’ expansion strategy.

He continued: “The Waterhead has long been in our sights and we are excited to bring this remarkable venue and its team into The Inn Collection Group family.

“Our customers are looking for experience-led stays and The Waterhead delivers on everything we look for in a site – a distinctive USP and an attractive environment in a winning destination where our guests want to spend their well-earned leisure time to eat, drink and stay with us.”