Glenridding Hotel opens with new name after multi-million-pound revamp

A Lake District hotel that flooded three times in two weeks in 2015 has reopened following a multi-million-pound refurbishment.

The Ullswater Inn is the new identity bestowed upon the former Glenridding Hotel, following 13 months of work by the Inn Collection Group.

The inn reopened at noon on Valentine’s Day and more than 120 meals were ordered and 500 drinks enjoyed at the venue, which has been a hostelry for over 160 years.

General manager Diane Lee-Lyons said: “We had a good blend of customers coming by to see us on our first day, from people staying with us at the inn, day visitors to the village and locals who ventured down to see our new look first-hand.

“Having been shut since January last year, there was a definite air of anticipation as we got closer to the reopening, and it was lovely to hear people chatting warmly about the new look and what changes have been made.”

“It really is a beautiful inn and I am just delighted that the doors are now open and we can get back to being somewhere that everyone in Glenridding can come in and enjoy.”

Carried out in conjunction with the Newcastle studio of national architects GSSArchitecture, and BXB Interior Design, the work transformed the Glenridding Hotel into a traditional-style pub.

Converting the former reception and lounge space on the village side of the building into the new main bar, the installation of a new main staircase links this with the old Beckside bar, creating space for 254 covers.

The Inn Collection Group has also fully refurbished existing bedrooms, removed a redundant spa area and the former Let It Brew coffee shop has also created additional bed spaces, taking the total number of rooms from 36 to 57.

The Ullswater Inn’s return to trade means that all 10 of The Inn Collection Group’s properties in the Lake District are now open, after a year that saw renovations also completed at The Swan, Grasmere and Ambleside’s The Wateredge Inn and The Waterhead Inn.