New owner and change of use for Lake District townhouse hotel

Lonsdale House Hotel in Ulverston has a new owner and is set for a new future after being sold to a property development company.

The 19-bedroom Georgian townhouse hotel, which is prominently located near the retail area of Ulverston – birthplace of comedian Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy fame – has been sold by hotels specialist Colliers International for an undisclosed figure, off a guide price of £535,000.

It has been bought by developer Cameron Investment Group for conversion into serviced apartments and residential accommodation for the expanding corporate market.

Neil Thomson, associate director at Colliers International, said: “The hotel and hospitality sector has been one of the sectors hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the range of potential uses offered by hotel premises means that they attract interest from a range of buyers.

“Lonsdale House Hotel is a lovely Georgian building that is conveniently located in Ulverston, which is situated between Morecambe Bay and the Lake District National Park.

“While it has been successfully operated on a bed and breakfast basis it is also ideal for conversion to serviced apartments and residential accommodation.”

Built in 1787 for local cleric George Fell, Lonsdale House Hotel has attractive walled, landscaped rear gardens and was a family-run business popular with both tourists and commercial guests.

Neil Thomson added: “Cumbria is a hugely popular region for hotel sales, and at Colliers we have seen keen interest in the region from buyers during 2020, despite the challenges created by the pandemic.

“The hotel industry is a hugely important part of the macro-economy.

“Many businesses will prosper once the world starts getting back to a new normal, as looks set to be the case with the roll-out of a vaccination programme in the UK.

“However, for those that do not, the option of redeveloping hotel premises for alternative uses can offer another option.”