A major luxury hotel is set to open near Knutsford this summer after a £125 million transformation of a historic Cheshire estate, bringing one of the world's best-known hospitality brands to the North West for the first time.
Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere will open on July 10th, with reservations now live. The resort sits within 157 acres of Cheshire countryside overlooking The Mere Lake - just five miles from Altrincham - on a site with a history stretching back to the Domesday Book of 1086.
In more recent decades it operated as a private members' club and golf resort before Dubai-based developer Select Group acquired it in May 2023 and set about its most ambitious reinvention yet.
The investment involved a £35 million acquisition followed by a further £90 million refurbishment.
The finished property will offer 116 bedrooms - including 23 suites - alongside a Gordon Ramsay restaurant, an 18-hole championship golf course, a spa, and a Grand Ballroom capable of holding up to 1,000 guests.
Inside the new Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere
Israr Liaqat, chief executive of Select Group, said the project had been driven by a desire to raise the bar for luxury hospitality in the region. "It is the realisation of a vision we committed to when we first acquired this exceptional property," he said.
"Our ambition from the outset was to create something that would set a new standard for luxury hospitality in the North West of England, and partnering with Fairmont, one of the world's most iconic luxury hotel brands, has allowed us to do exactly that."
Claudia Kozma Kaplan, chief brand officer at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, said the brand was looking forward to bringing its approach to a new part of the country. "Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere offers a countryside sanctuary designed for pause and restoration within beautifully appointed surrounds," she said.
"Guests can indulge in pure serenity at the calming spa which draws inspiration from the lake, savour celebratory moments in the refined Club Lounge after a round of golf, and experience world-class British and international cuisine at Gordon Ramsay at The Mere, all within a quintessentially British rural setting."
Gary Johnson, the hotel's general manager, said the location was central to the resort's identity.
"Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere is a place defined by its setting - the lake, the fairways and the sense of space that surrounds it, all of which create a natural feeling of ease and connection," he said.
"We look forward to welcoming guests into this new chapter of the estate, whether they are here for dining, golf or wellbeing, and to see the hotel once again become a place for great company, meaningful occasions and a life well lived."
The opening will make The Mere one of the more prominent wedding and events venues in Cheshire. The Grand Ballroom spans 1,000 square metres and connects to outdoor parkland, while four boardrooms are available for smaller private events and meetings.
The Mere has long been a fixture of Cheshire social life as a golf resort and members' club, and the new owners have indicated they want to maintain that connection to the local community rather than reposition it purely as a destination hotel.
Fairmont operates more than 90 hotels globally, including The Savoy in London. Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere will be its fourth UK property, alongside Fairmont Windsor Park and Fairmont St Andrews.
Further details on the opening are expected in the coming weeks.
