Former country house and school to be converted to luxury James' Places hotel

Bowland Inns and Hotels has secured planning permission to develop a Grade II-listed country house in Lancashire into a luxury hotel, spa, and wedding venue.

Wennington Hall, on the outskirts of the Lune Valley village of Wennington, was used as a school until it closed in summer 2022 and was sold to the hotel group by Lancashire County Council.

Work is expected to begin in the next few weeks on transforming the hall into a 37-room hotel and events venue, which is expected to create up to 60 jobs.

It will operate under the James' Places brand and will take the company's total bedroom stock to over 160 rooms.

"Wennington Hall will be a fabulous addition to our family of remarkable buildings and businesses," said James Warburton, chairman of James' Places.

"There is so much potential here, not just in the Hall itself but in the extensive collection of buildings once useful to the school but now in need of fresh ideas."

James' Places operates five wedding and events venues in the north-west of England, including 15th century Mitton Hall at Whalley, Georgian country house Eaves Hall at Clitheroe, and Falcon Manor at Settle in the Yorkshire Dales.

Bowland Inns and Hotels' wider portfolio includes the Boland Brewery and beer hall in a historic former cotton mill in Clitheroe and the group acquired the Assheton Arms country inn in Downham in the Ribble Valley in 2022.

The company said it was actively searching for more opportunities in the Lancaster, Lune Valley and South Lakes areas.