A FOUR-star Lake District hotel is up for sale months after an indicator of 'modern slavery' was found by immigration officers. 

The 23-bedroom Fisherbeck Hotel on Lake Road in Ambleside is on the market for £2m. It offers a lounge bar and a restaurant/breakfast room. There is also a large basement including staff and owner's accommodation. 

Parts of the building may date back to the 17th century with further extensions added in the Victorian era, according to the listing which has been publicised by property consultants Graham + Sibbald.

According to the listing, the owner of the Fisherbeck has spent in the region of £600,000 improving the property since acquiring it in 2018. It said the property is being offered for sale for 'personal reasons'.

Immigration enforcement visits to the hotel were conducted in January and April this year. A civil penalty of £10,000 was issued on April 29 for employing illegal workers in January. 

One worker told officers in April 2024 that she receives 'one meal for one day, the residue from the customers' food only.'

The report, which was submitted to Westmorland and Furness Council in June, asked that the premises licence was revoked.

It added: "This is clearly concerning and is an indicator of modern slavery.”

Documents state out of the 16 staff encountered on two separate occasions, there were six illegal workers encountered at the premises. Two workers were encountered on both occasions.

The hotel announced that it would close permanently in May. 

Graham + Sibbald is also marketing the eight-bedroom Claremount House in Ambleside for £750,000.

Claremont House is described as a traditional Victorian Lake District Guest House property, which has been the subject of an £80,000 investment since the current owner bought the property in 2022.

(Image: Graham + Sibbald)

The property, which is open and trading, is being sold by way of an asset sale of a going concern business and comprises eight individual studio bedrooms, large basement / owners accommodation, front garden and rear terrace.

Martin Davis, based in Graham + Sibbald’s Manchester Office, said: “With the continued shortage of good quality hotel and leisure businesses in the Lake District and given the excellent trading locations and quality accommodation on offer, we expect to generate strong interest in both of these assets.”