AN historic hotel is set to receive a £1m makeover which will create 12 new jobs.

Stonecross Manor, in Kendal, is currently closed as the first phase of the major refurbishment takes place with a complete remodelling of the ground floor of the 32-bedroom hotel.

The well-known, four-star hotel was acquired and renovated by the Everbright Group in 2017 when Helen Clark took over as manager.

It will reopen for a short time this month before work on the second phase of their ambitious plans starts in January.

(Image: Everbright Hotels Group) The next stage will involve building a new extension to house two ground-floor suites and 11 deluxe and standard double bedrooms. They will also begin remodelling the spa and leisure areas.

These works are scheduled to be completed by the spring and will bring the historic 167-year-old hotel fully into the 21st century, according to Everbright Hotels Group Operations Director Darryl Shaw.

He said: “We will be increasing the room stock by more than a third and the hotel does have a very good occupancy rate and gets very good ratings on review sites so it does make sense for us to increase the number of bedrooms.

“At the same time we’re going to increase the size of the hotel’s leisure facility and swimming pool and introduce some interesting new features.

“We are looking to create a very nice boutique-style hotel, the kind of place guests can arrive at and enjoy luxurious spa facilities, comfortable accommodation and quality dining.

“The hotel has traded very well since we acquired it and this is a high value development which reflects the confidence we have in Stonecross Manor and its business.

“It came out of Covid very strongly. All our staff had stayed with us and started back immediately and it’s gone from strength to strength since then.

“As group we chose to be in the Lake District and North Wales because of the magnificent scenery and countryside and so most of our customers come from the North West of England.”

(Image: Everbright Hotels Group) The building dates from 1857 and was built as an orphanage by Mary Howard of Levens Hall to provide education to young girls and prevent them going to the workhouse, instead, many went into service with local gentry. It has been a hotel since 1984.

Manager, Helen Clark is now overseeing a second modernisation.

She said: “The initial work has seen a complete remodelling of the ground floor bar, restaurant and function room before work starts in the new year on the extension and the upgraded spa area.

“It’s very exciting and once the work has been completed it will be lovely.

“The extension of the leisure facilities will incorporate larger changing rooms and a space for another experience room while our current staff numbers will go up from 22 by at least 12 and possibly more as we open up.”