Joseph Holt to launch accommodation arm

The Manchester hospitality group, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year​, wants to combine the traditional pub atmosphere with affordable accommodation through its Hotels by Holts business.

At the Angel in Knutsford, rooms have been named after different parts of the brewing process such as Brewhouse, Mash Ton and Hops & Barley.

Meanwhile, Joseph Holt is working on its first county hotel next to its Cat & Lion pub in Stretton, which was an ex-Premier Inn site.

Hospitality is changing​

The hotel is the largest of the Hotels by Holts group with 29 rooms. Oher hotels being upgraded include the Norfolk Arms, a former coaching house on the edge of the Peak District, and the Black Dog in the Lancashire village of Belmont.

Joseph Holt director Andrew Kershaw said: “Several of our pubs already had rooms but we are now bringing them all together under the Hotels by Holts banner, as a separate brand within Joseph Holt.

“The hospitality trade is changing, and budget-conscious travellers still want something that feels intimate or more personalised, which is exactly what our pubs have always offered since they are very much part of the communities they serve.

“It also means that guests can enjoy activities, groups or events taking place at the pub.”

Experience the history​

Kershaw added that guests want to stay in a Joseph Holt pub to experience the history of the family brewer and that the past is celebrated as part of the design of its sites.

Last month, Joseph Holt reopened its Alkrington pub as the Roebuck after a £1m renovation, having been named Thornberries.

Joseph Holt pub director Mark Norbury said: “Thornberries was always the people’s pub and so much more than just a place to eat or drink, so little wonder that the Roebuck was the clear winner of our naming competition.

“Yet at the same time this is a new beginning for the pub. It’s a community pub, which extends a welcome to anyone who wants to enjoy classic Joseph Holt hospitality. But also one with a massive refurbishment that brings even more new life into the pub.”