The Ambleside Inn is celebrating its fifth anniversary in the Lake District.

Acquired in February 2019, the 300-year-old establishment was the second Lake District acquisition by The Inn Collection Group and the first to undergo a multi-million-pound transformation.

The inn is celebrating its fifth anniversary today, December 2.

The Ambleside Inn underwent a multi-million-pound renovation (Image: Supplied) Mark Wilson, the England rugby international, and internet Springer Spaniel favourites Max, Paddy, and Harry opened the inn.

This marked the beginning of what Sean Donkin, The Inn Collection Group's CEO, describes as a "transformational" journey.

The refurbishment project took nine months and involved a total redesign of the 150-capacity dining and bar areas, and a complete makeover of 30 bedrooms.

The refurbishment took nine months (Image: Supplied) The building retained original features such as a log-burning stove and bar pillars.

Despite the challenges of its first year during COVID-19, The Ambleside Inn welcomed around 52,000 overnight guests and served over 150,000 meals, including more than 13,000 portions of fish and chips and burgers, since reopening.

The bar has served over 180,000 pints of the top five drinks alone.

The building retained many original features, including its log-burning stove (Image: Supplied) Mr Donkin said: "The Ambleside Inn was a landmark opening for The Inn Collection Group and was our first venue to open in the Lake District, which had long been a prime focus destination for our company.

"The opening marked the end of a long chapter searching for the right unit in a winning location to add to our estate and it would be fair to say it was a transformational moment for us as a group.

"The Lakes has proven to be one of the keys to our growth with there now being 10 inns across the national park.

Sean Donkin, The Inn Collection Group's CEO (Image: Supplied) The Inn Collection Group has become the largest operator of serviced room accommodation in the Lakes, with 431 rooms.

The group has invested in both the properties and their teams, carrying out nine multi-million-pound refurbishments, with a tenth set to begin at Grasmere's Wordsworth Hotel.

The refurbished establishments have also donated more than £55,000 to charities and community groups across the Lakes since 2022.

According to the company, overnight visitors staying with The Inn Collection Group are estimated to have contributed more than £100 million to the Cumbrian economy since 2019.

The group employs 225 people in a mix of full and part-time roles and has invested in infrastructure and support programmes.

This includes the creation of staff accommodation.

Mr Donkin added: "Coming into the Lake District, it was important for us to embed ourselves into the community and we’ve strived to do that and let actions speak.

"We’re proud of investments into our people and creating opportunities for local people to think about hospitality as genuine career prospect and of our refurbishments of renowned, and much-loved establishments.

"They have not only preserved historic properties but given them new leases of life and given them positive long-term futures.

"We’re also delighted that our inns have looked to involve themselves in local life and support causes like Patterdale Primary School, Ambleside Parish Centre and Coniston’s Christmas Lights to name just a few. "It has been a huge journey for The Inn Collection Group in general and in the Lakes in particular and I look forward to our relationship continuing to grow."