A hotel on the outskirts of Preston has been saved from standing empty.
Mercure, part of the Accor brand of hotels, is the new name for the Samlesbury Hotel.
The hotel in Preston New Road was previously a Best Western Plus and was before that managed by Squire Hotels.
KRO Hospitality says it will invest £1.5million in a revamp of the hotel and restaurant.
With 80 rooms the hotel employs 50 staff and KRO says these jobs are now safe.
KRO Hospitality owner Kim Elvind Krohn said: “We are delighted to welcome the Mercure Preston Samlesbury Hotel to our portfolio. It is a fantastic hotel with enormous potential and is situated in an ideal location to attract business travellers and leisure guests alike. We have some very exciting plans for the hotel refurbishment and our new food offer, and we look forward to working with the Accor team to bring these to fruition.
“The hotel is of huge importance to the region. It was recently shortlisted in the Hotel of the Year category for the 2018 Lancashire Business Awards, a title it won in 2017 and we are very pleased that we can help ensure the hotel remains an important part of the community. We can also confirm there will be no disruption to day-to-day operation.”
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The restaurant The Five Barred Gate Bar and Grill is to serve local seasonal produce and draws its name from the original name for the hotel when a pub stood on its site.
Mercure Preston is due to relaunch in April this year.
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