THE newly transformed Daresbury Park Hotel, which closed to the public for more than five years to house migrants, has officially opened its doors following the completion of its multi-million-pound refurbishment programme.
The venue, which had been a flagship hotel when it was part of Lord Daresbury’s portfolio, before becoming a Britannia Hotel, was acquired by the Home Office to house migrants, but it was announced during the Runcorn and Helsby by-election last May that this contract would be ending.
While the return has been welcomed in some quarters, others have said they will continue to boycott the premises.
The grand opening gave attendees an exclusive look at the hotel’s extensive development and transition into a 4-star destination within the premium Elite Venue Selection portfolio, a collection of 17 superior-brand hotels owned by the Britannia Hotels Group.
The event featured speeches from the Mayor of Halton as well as representatives from Elite Venue Selection, highlighting the venue’s renewed role as a local economic driver and leading hospitality destination for leisure and business visitors to the area.
The investment has seen all 228 bedrooms and bathrooms completely remodelled, introducing contemporary interiors, upgraded furnishings and enhanced modern amenities throughout the property. Guests attending the event toured the upgraded facilities, which also includes a refreshed reception and communal areas, redesigned restaurant and bar spaces and the hotel’s brand new health club. Externally, landscaping works have enhanced hotel grounds and arrival areas.
Councillor Pamela Wallace, Mayor of Halton, said: “The transformation of Daresbury Park Hotel is fantastic news for our borough and represents a major investment in the future of our local hospitality and visitor economy.
“The redevelopment not only enhances Halton’s appeal to businesses and leisure visitors but also helps strengthen the area’s reputation as a destination for conferences, events and tourism. These upgraded facilities will create opportunities for local employment, attract increased footfall and reposition the hotel as a high-quality venue the community can be proud of.
“It was a pleasure to declare Daresbury Park Hotel officially open and I look forward to seeing the positive impact the hotel will have across the borough in the years ahead.”
Simon Powell, Director of Elite Venue Selection, said: “The official opening of Daresbury Park Hotel marks a hugely important moment for the business and for the local community. This significant investment reflects our confidence in the hotel’s future and our commitment to the local area while providing a high-quality, four-star experience for our guests.
“We were really pleased to welcome so many local businesses and community and civic stakeholders to see first-hand the scale of transformation that has taken place across the hotel.”
Sitting on the Halton/Warrington border, there were various members of the Warrington Business community at the event, who were impressed with what they saw.
The hotel also has a leisure club which is open to the public and a former squash court has been transformed into a studio area which can hired out, as can an impressive boardroom.
There is also a bar and restaurant area open to the public.
