A 55-bedroom country house hotel in Wilmslow has been bought out of administration for £4.15m.
The Stanneylands Hotel (pictured) has been acquired by the Mere Golf Resort & Spa after falling into administration in May 2015.
The new owners of the Stanneylands, Mark Boler and Gary Corbett, have been searching for a second site to grow the Mere brand for the last 12 months. They plan to reposition the property as a boutique country house hotel in the early summer following an investment and refurbishment programme to the guestrooms and public areas, as well as making a commitment to employee training.
Corbett said: "The strategic acquisition of the Stanneylands allows us to transfer the operational and customer experience that we are renowned for delivering at the Mere to the Stanneylands. Coupled with our plans to improve the product and services on offer, we are confident that this will delight existing guests as well as attract new customers.
"The Stanneylands product and reputation is a perfect fit to spearhead our ambition to grow the operation of the Mere brand."
Boler said: "We're delighted to be the new owners of the Stanneylands, a hotel that has an amazing history and reputation in the local market. We are really excited about the investment planned, getting to know the team and in restoring this hotel to its former glory with a little twist of Mere magic."
The Mere Group's acquisition was supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
James Burgess, director of structured finance for commercial and private banking at the Royal Bank of Scotland, said: "The hotel has a loyal clientele and strong standing within the local area. As a leisure development, and to an organisation with the experience and expertise as the Mere Group, the investment offers strong long-term opportunities and will further enhance the group's portfolio."
Located in the countryside near Manchester Airport, the four-star Stanneylands country house hotel offers 55 bedrooms including deluxe suites, executive accommodation and fine dining in the two AA rosette-winning restaurant plus the Calico Café Bar.
The news follows on from Highwater Estates' £5.35m acquisition of another former Prima Hotels property, Nunsmere Hall Hotel near Northwich, from administrators.
Four hotels in England owned and managed by Prima Hotels entered administration in May 2015, with Ryan Grant, Lee Causer and Catherine Williamson appointed joint administrators.
Grant said: "I am delighted that we have completed both sales and wish the new owners and staff success for the future. We will continue to trade the remaining hotels on a business-as-usual basis with the expectation that sales of these remaining hotels will conclude shortly."
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