Brewer launches hotels division to meet rise in demand

Family-owned Manchester brewer, Joseph Holt, has created a hotels subsidiary under the Holels by Holts brand.

The 175-year-old firm said it reflects an increasing demand for pub operators to provide priced, comfortable accommodation along with the traditional warmth of the pub experience.

Hotels by Holts director, Andrew Kershaw, said:  “Several of our pubs already had rooms – but we are now bringing them all together under the Hotels by Holts banner, as a separate brand within Joseph Holt.

“The hospitality trade is changing, and budget-conscious travellers still want something that feels intimate or more personalised, which is exactly what our pubs have always offered since they are very much part of the communities they serve.

“It also means that guests can enjoy activities, groups or events taking place at the pub.”

As part of the initiative the company is investing in refurbishment of its portfolio, including the Angel in Knutsford which has just had its rooms named after different parts of the brewing process such as Brewhouse, Mash Ton and Hops & Barley.

Joseph Holt is also continuing to upgrade its first country hotel – a former a Premier Inn located next to one of the brewery`s popular pubs, the Cat and Lion in Stretton.

Cat and Lion bedroom

Following the first phase of the makeover the two merged as the Cat and Lion Country Pub and Hotel, which is the largest of the Hotels by Holts group with 29 rooms.

Other pubs in the Hotels by Holts group enjoying an upgrade include the Norfolk Arms,  a former coaching house on the edge of the Peak District and the Black Dog, a country food pub in the picturesque Lancashire village of Belmont.

According to a report last year by hotel industry publication, Hotel Owner, pubs with hotel rooms have been on the rise in recent years, with 41% of pub operators planning to add hotel rooms to their businesses in the next 12 months.

Andrew Kershaw added:  “Hotels by Holts is a continually expanding project which reflects the popularity of staying in a hotel that offers a charming pub experience.

“We have found that people are staying with us for all sorts of reasons – from business trips to holiday breaks – because they enjoy the location, the atmosphere, the convenience and, of course, the pub.

“By establishing separate Hotels by Holts with its own branding, social media and more, we are creating an independent entity, yet which enjoys all the history and quality and iconic branding associated with the Joseph Holt name.”