Bespoke Hotels to operate former Shearings hotels

The properties have been closed since March due to the Covid-19 lockdown, with Shearings going into administration two months later.

The company said “almost all” of the hotels from Shearings’ Bay, Coast & Country and Country Living collections have now joined the Bespoke Hotels brand. The properties will “gradually start to reopen” in the coming months.

Hotels include The Windermere Hotel in the Lake District, The Caledonian in Fort William, Scotland, The Ship and Castle in St Mawes, Cornwall, and the refurbished St George in Harrogate.

Bespoke Hotels chief executive Thomas Greenall said: “This news is particularly welcome in these trying times for our industry. This new arrangement ensures that we can create jobs at a challenging time for employees in the sector.”

The project to reopen the 40 hotels will be led by Bespoke Hotels’ regional director Paul FitzGerald.

“Two great hotels in the Lake District – The Derwentwater Hotel & Manor Apartments and The Windermere - as well as The Pitlochry Hydro have been earmarked to reopen first, in late August,” said FitzGerald.

In June, Leger Holidays acquired the Shearings name, website and customer database, with plans to relaunch the brand as a standalone part of its escorted touring portfolio offering trips around the UK and Europe.