A major refurbishment is planned at Wrexham’s Holt Lodge Hotel over the coming months
New owners of a landmark hotel in Wrexham are aiming to lure tourists attracted to the area by the success of the city’s football team. Holt Lodge Hotel has changed hands after being run by the same couple for 28 years.
Chester hotelier Steven Hesketh partnered with Daniel Gillon, co-founder and managing director of Onyx Real Estate Liverpool, to take over the hotel. The sale went through this week and the pair are planning a major upgrade over the next few months.
Holt Lodge Hotel is a 37-bedroom hotel, set in 7.18 acres of land, with a roadside location on the A534 between the village of Holt and the city of Wrexham. With the previous owners planning on embracing retirement, the hotel went on the market in summer 2023 for £1.6m.
Initial plans include a £250k-plus investment, with all 37 rooms being fully refurbished within the first six months. Next, the focus will move on to the 120-plus person function suite and its potential use. The new owners hope to work closely with local businesses and sports clubs to run networking and events, including sportsmen’s dinners and other functions.
The hotel is also keen to offer off-site hospitality facilities for pre-match dinners and packages. North Wales Live has a WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
Hotelier Steven Hesketh already owns The Chester Townhouse, a family-run business, and is heavily involved in the hospitality industry. He is excited to focus on what can be done to support, protect and grow the visitor economy through the development of Holt Lodge Hotel.
He said: “This week, as Wrexham continues to be celebrated for its winning streak under Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney – who regularly help the city make headlines – the stars have aligned within the region’s hospitality scene to create waves around the future of another iconic Wrexham landmark – Holt Lodge Hotel.
“The award-winning hotel has been run by husband-and-wife team Andrew and Alexandra Smeaton and their family for over 25 years. It is recognised as being a part of the region’s history and known lovingly for its warm hospitality, excellent dining and comfortable accommodation. However, the time has come for new owners to map out the hotel’s future and we are excited to take on that challenge.”
Holt Lodge Hotel remains open and its owners plan to fully relaunch the venue at the end of June with an opening party. Co-owner Dan said the pair were honoured to be taking on a venue that has been a part of so many local peoples’ lives.
“Speak to anyone in the area and they, or someone they know, has worked here, got married here, or been to a wedding here,” he said. “We are proud to be here in Wrexham and look forward to developing events that bring the community together.”
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