FWP wins Cumbrian hotel design contract

An award-winning Cumbrian hotel group has appointed the Frank Whittle Partnership (FWP) to oversee a major investment in its flagship hotels.

The brief from Lake District Hotels Limited for the highly-acclaimed design team at FWP is to take their traditional Cumbrian venues and transform them into hotels for the 21st Century guest.

Contemporary, boutique bedroom designs, created by the interiors team at Lancashire-based FWP, are being rolled out across the family-owned company’s impressive portfolio, which includes some of the best-known hotels in the North of England.

The group, owned by the Graves family, operates six top hotels in Cumbria, including The Borrowdale Hotel, The Skiddaw Hotel, near Keswick, and Lodore Falls at Derwentwater.

FWP has completed the new designs for the Borrowdale and Skiddaw hotels as well as the Inn on the Lake at Glennridding in Ullswater.

Now the FWP team, led by David Simmons, is working on refurbishment plans for all the public areas at the Inn On The Lake Hotel, including its lounges, bar, restaurants, ceremony room, reception and lobby.

David Simmons said: “The Graves family pay great attention to detail at all their hotels, which is why they have an excellent reputation in the industry.

“The strategy is to operate a continuous refurbishment programme throughout the group and provide them with designs for contemporary bedrooms and public spaces in each hotel to make a favourable first impression on visitors and make their stay comfortable and enjoyable.”

FWP, with offices in Preston and Manchester, has a wealth of architecture and design expertise in the hotel and leisure sector. The practice also works for some of Cumbria’s leading tourism and leisure providers including Westmorland Limited and Haverigg Holiday Village.

In recent years FWP has orchestrated the construction or planning approval of major refurbishment work at Tebay Services on the M6 and the £2m expansion plans for Haverigg Holiday Village in West Cumbria.

In Cumbria, 15 million visitors contribute £1.1. billion annually to the local economy, but tourism chiefs have warned that budget cuts in 2011 will mean stiffer competition from tourism destinations in Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

For Lake District businesses, investing in their tourism offer will be pivotal to their success and the area’s long term economy, says Ian Stephens, chief executive of Cumbria Tourism.

Lake District Hotels Limited will play a leading role in driving Cumbria’s tourism economy and also help attract visitors to parts of the county away from Windermere and Ambleside.

Kit Graves, managing director of Lake District Hotels, said: “Visitors to the Lake District have high expectations. Our commitment to this major refurbishment programme of our hotels will ensure guests enjoy their stay and will want to visit us time and again.

“We recognise the importance of tourism to Cumbria’s economy and our investment will keep our hotels at the forefront of the sector for years to come.

“FWP understand that Lake District Hotels are all about quality and individuality and their designs will enhance the offering and experience for guests.”

David Simmons added: “Our work ensures that bedroom space and natural light is used to the maximum affect and that guests can enjoy accommodation that is also the perfect place to relax and unwind.”