AFTER acquiring its first hotel, Joseph Holt Brewery has transformed the former Premier Inn next door to one of its pubs, the Cat and Lion in Stretton, into a Country House Hotel.
Together the two have now been renamed as the Cat and Lion Country Pub and Hotel following a thoughtful refurbishment.
The 173-year-old Manchester-based brewery, which has been in the same family for six generations, already owns 127 pubs across the North West. Seven of these venues do have rooms but this is limited to eight bedrooms or less. The new hotel, therefore fulfils a long-time ambition by the brewery to offer more extensive accommodation
The Cat and Lion Country Pub and Hotel has been stripped of its previous budget chain insignia. The reception area has been refurbished and seven of the bedrooms are now on offer as `premium rooms` following a rustic-style luxury makeover which includes hand-painted lamps and sumptuous soft furnishings
Residents of the hotel will be able to get breakfast from the full menu offered by the pub.
According to Dennis Maddocks, Estates Executive the acquisition of the hotel takes advantage of both its location and post Covid interest in staycations and weekends away.
“When we heard the property was for sale it was too good an opportunity to miss – offering a chance to turn our already popular and historic Cat and Lion pub into a venue for country house style accommodation too.”
Based in the village of Stretton in Warrington, the Cat and Lion was built in the 1600s as a coaching inn and still retains some of its original features with a hay hatch door and wooden beams.
Alongside a large and heated beer garden there`s also a spacious dining area offering a full menu ranging from pub classics to stone baked pizzas made in an on site pizza oven.
The new hotel also has free parking and wifi as well, of course, extremely comfortable beds.
Dennis added: “Our award-winning beers and extensive menu is already hugely popular with our customers. Now we can extend the style, feel and ambience of the Cat and Lion into extensive quality accommodation too. “
