£2.5m lockdown makeover for luxury Lytham hotel

A prestigious North West hotel is ready to welcome back guests following the completion of a £2.5m refurbishment, with support from Lloyds Bank.

The refurbishment of The Clifton Arms Hotel in Lytham St Annes was completed ahead of the hospitality sector opening its doors in May.

The building, which dates from 1840, has been privately owned by the Webb family since 1993.

Over the past five years, the 48 bedrooms have all had individual makeovers, along with the banqueting suites, but the ground floor was in need of modernisation.

To carry out the refurbishments, the owners secured a £2.5m funding package from Lloyds Bank, allowing them to carry out a major programme of renovations.

This included a refurbished reception, bar and more dining areas – with newly-designed menus to complement the new state-of-the-art kitchen.

A new outdoor seating area on the terrace was also created, overlooking Lytham Green. All day dining will also now be available for non-residents as well as hotel guests.

Director, Carol Webb, said: “It’s been a tough 14 months for everyone – the hospitality sector has had to prepare to reopen on several occasions but then forced to close again at short notice.

“Last year, the board of directors took the decision to remain closed and focus on the planned refurbishment that we were fortunately able to bring forward. We hope that this will allow the Clifton Arms Hotel to return stronger than ever.”

Victoria Dolman, general manager, said: “The design team have worked with the hotel’s existing features to further enhance this iconic hotel. The support from our loyal customers throughout this period has been heart warming and has given us the strength and determination needed at times to keep going.

“We’re confident the restaurant and bar will be a massive draw to visitors to the area and local residents, while the comfortable, cosy spaces we’ve created will allow guests to relax in beautiful and calming surroundings.”

Jo Etherington, relationship director at Lloyds Bank, said: “The Clifton Arms Hotel is a prominent North West business with a history that extends more than 300 years and is an iconic part of Lytham’s heritage.

“Although the hospitality industry has been hit hard by the pandemic, it’s fantastic to see establishments using the lockdown closures as an opportunity to upgrade facilities and putting themselves in the strongest position possible to welcome back guests.”