Transformational presence hailed as The Ambleside Inn turns 5
December 2 2024
The Inn Collection Group is celebrating half a decade in the Lake District as The Ambleside Inn celebrates its fifth anniversary of reopening under the ownership of the award-winning hospitality group.
Bought in February 2019, the 300-year-old establishment was the group’s second acquisition in the national park but the first to complete a multi-million-pound transformation.
Opened by England rugby international Mark Wilson and internet Springer Spaniel sensations Max, Paddy & Harry, The Ambleside Inn introduced the north east firm’s style of hospitality and began a journey The Inn Collection Group CEO Sean Donkin describes as “transformational”
Taking nine months to complete, the refurbishment project included a total redesign of the 150-capacity dining and bar areas to create a laid-back venue and full refurbishment of 30 bedrooms.
Using materials and an earthy colour palette to reflect the natural environment of the Lakes, the building retained original features, including a log-burning stove and bar pillars.
Despite being heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in its first year of operation, The Ambleside Inn has achieved some truly staggering numbers since its reopening.
Welcoming some 52,000 overnight sleepers, the kitchen has served more than 150,000 meals, including more than 13,000 portions of both Fish & Chips and burgers.
The bar has also been quenching the thirst of visitors, with over 180,000 pints served across the top five drinks alone.
Its prime position at the head of the town sees The Ambleside Inn remain a consistently high-performing property for The Inn Collection Group and saw the site team named Inn of the Year at the company’s internal awards in March.
Looking back at the last half decade, Sean Donkin said: “The Ambleside Inn was a landmark opening for The Inn Collection Group and was our first venue to open in the Lake District, which had long been a prime focus destination for our company.
“The opening marked the end of a long chapter searching for the right unit in a winning location to add to our estate and it would be fair to say it was a transformational moment for us as a group.
“The Lakes has proven to be one of the keys to our growth with there now being 10 inns across the national park.”
Since those first steps, The Inn Collection Group has become the largest operator of serviced rooms accommodation with 431 in the Lakes, and has made significant investments in both the properties and their teams.
Carrying out nine multi-million-pound refurbishments with a tenth about to begin at Grasmere’s Wordsworth Hotel, new life and significant restoration has been brought to a host of historic properties.
Eager to be good neighbours, these revitalised establishments have also been supporting a wealth of good causes and community organisations across the Lakes.
From sports clubs to Christmas lights displays and from mountain rescue teams to community parent and child groups and sustainable transport initiatives, more than £55,000 has been donated via the Give Inn Back scheme since 2022.
The financial impact has also translated from the success of the inns, with overnight visitors staying with The Inn Collection Group estimated to have contributed more than £100m to the Cumbrian economy since 2019.
Employing a total of 225 people in a mix of full and part-time roles, there has also been significant investment into infrastructure and support programmes to tackle the well-document recruitment challenges within the tourism industry.
Most prominent has been the creation of affordable, high-quality staff accommodation either through the refurbishment or conversion of existing properties or purpose-built new facilities as at The Swan in Grasmere.
With 117 units available the provision, when combined with living wage salaries, has played a huge role in The Inn Collection Group’s ability to attract and retain talented employees.
Sean added: “Coming into the Lake District, it was important for us to ember ourselves into the community and we’ve strived to do that and let actions speak.
“We’re proud of investments into our people and creating opportunities for local people to think about hospitality as genuine career prospect and of our refurbishments of renowned and much-loved establishments.
“They have not only preserved historic properties but given them new leases of life and given them positive long-term futures.
Enjoy your next Lake District getaway with The Inn Collection Group with Winter Break stays available from just £99 and Christmas staycations from just £599 for two people sharing.