British golf course resort completes ‘world-class’ £70million refurbishment on lakeside boasting restaurant and spa
A SPRAWLING golf course has undergone a multi-million pound transformation – and it’s set in the heart of the English countryside.
The lakeside location has now been upgraded to a luxury “world-class” getaway.
The Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere in Knutsford, has completed its £70million renovation, transforming the site into a 5-star countryside retreat.
Works done to the previously-named The Mere Golf Resort & Spa, included upgrading the 81 exisiting guest rooms into luxury suites, with an additional 35 rooms added to the property.
Located on the shoreline of Lake Mere, the 157-acre site now features an 18-hole championship golf course, originally designed in the 1930s by James Braid and George Duncan.
Guests will also be able to luxuriate in the property’s on-site spa and wellness resort, which boasts three pools, seven thermal experiences – including a sauna, salt room and hammam – alongside three cold plunge pools.
A Technogym fitness studio also offers spin and HIIT sessions, with a covered outdoor class area ideal for training under open skies.
Further upgrades include a new restaurant to be operated by Gordon Ramsay, featuring lakeside dining and seasonal British ingredients – as well as the chef’s signature beef Wellington.
Enhancements have also been made to the existing orangery, which now incorporates a champagne and freshly-shucked oyster bar, as well as an afternoon tea atrium.
Located just 10 minutes from Manchester Airport, and just half an hour from the city centre, the property has said “it is one of the North
West’s leading destinations for conferences, weddings and corporate retreats”.
As a result, the site offers a separate conference and events centre with ten dedicated spaces, the largest of which – the Grand Ballroom – has a capacity up to 1,000 guests.
The resort, which opened last Friday (July 10), is managed by the French multinational hospitality company, Accor.
This marks Accor’s fourth Fairmont-branded property in the country, joining Fairmont Windsor Park, Fairmont St Andrews and The Savoy.
Israr Liaqat, group CEO for Select Group, said: “From the outset, Russell WBHO brought the skills, experience, and dedication that this project demanded, and the result speaks for itself.
“The development sets a new benchmark for five-star hospitality in the North West, offering opulent accommodation, world-class spa and golf experiences, exceptional dining and grand event spaces.”