Walker & Williams builds presence with two hotel buys

The family-run hotelier has acquired two sites in Chester and Ormskirk as it looks to ramp up its presence in the North West.

The 22,000 sq ft Ormskirk Magistrates Court is set to become a five-star aparthotel with 23 apartments, restaurant and a cocktail bar. It is set to open late next year.

Work has also started this month on transforming a grade two-listed building on Newgate Street in Chester into 19 five-star apartments. The site is set to open to the public in two years. Currently the site encompasses 43,000 sq ft but Walker & Williams hope to expand the site subject to planning.

The professional team is MD Build as the contractor, FWP Architects, PWA Planning Consultants, Partington & Associates as the structural engineers and Ball & Berry as building control.

These sites have been funded by a £1.2m development fund from Lloyds Bank.

Walker & Williams has set its sights specifically on Manchester and Liverpool for its expansion, and is also eyeing sites in Leeds and Harrogate.

The hotelier plans to further expand its portfolio of five-star boutique aparthotels across the North West from its current four to 30 within the next ten years.

The company launched its first five-star aparthotel in 2017 with No.10 Preston. Three weeks later it announced plans to purchase an adjacent property to expand the site from five to 14 apartments to meet demand. The Winckley Square Hotel in Preston was its second offer which came into the market in December 2018.

Max Walker-Williams, founder and director of Walker & Williams, said: “Our ultimate goal is to grow our portfolio to include 30 aparthotels within the next ten years. While it may seem ambitious, we have a proven track record of success and continue to see an appetite for the boutique style of luxury accommodation we offer.

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Ormskirk is the perfect spot for visiting Liverpool and West Lancashire. Great to see quality hotel offers coming forward to boost the towns leisure industry. The old magistrates court will be superb.

By Red Squirrel

So which of the above listed people gave the go ahead to dig out below the city wall foundations?

By Ian

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