Russell WBHO completes £70m Mere transformation
Working for UAE-based investor Select Group, the contractor has delivered an expansion and refurbishment pf the Cheshire golf and spa destination, now billed as Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere.
Close to Knutsford, the work was delivered in three phases for Select Group, which also includes Niu Air Frankfurt and Birmingham’s Radisson Blu among its strategic European investments.
Luxury brand Fairmont is part of global hotels group Accor, and Mere becomes the fourth Fairmont-branded property in the UK, joining venues at Windsor Park, St Andrews and The Savoy.
The works saw Russell WBHO upgrade 81 existing guest rooms to a five-star standard and add a further 35 rooms across the site, including a three-storey, 24-bedroom extension.
Mere’s conference centre was also expanded with a two-storey extension – the ground floor now provides event space for up to 1,000 people, a pre-function bar area and a large commercial kitchen. The first floor features a new golf club lounge, outdoor terraces and meeting rooms.
Further upgrades include a new Gordon Ramsay-branded restaurant and enhancements to the existing orangery, which now incorporates a champagne and oyster bar.
Leach Rhodes Walker led on design. Russell WBHO won the brief in October 2023, and was retained a year later for the fit-out phase.
The Orangery has been overhauled Credit: via ECPR
The final phase of works comprised extensive hard and soft landscaping spanning around 2.5 acres, car park improvements and new external lighting.
Gareth Russell, managing director of Russell WBHO, said: “This was an exceptionally diverse project that combined our new build, refurbishment and heritage expertise. From pre-construction through to completion, we worked in close partnership with Select Group, collaborating on the design and carefully phasing each element.
“Delivering a scheme of this complexity and quality is something the whole team is really proud of. It’s been a privilege to watch the resort come to life and to add it to our prestigious hotel portfolio.”
Israr Liaqat, group chief executive of Select Group, added: “From the outset, Russell WBHO brought the skills, experience, and dedication that this project demanded, and the result speaks for itself.
“The development sets a new benchmark for five-star hospitality in the North West, offering opulent accommodation, world-class spa and golf experiences, exceptional dining and grand event spaces.”
