Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family

The Haythornthwaite family has bought one of Lancashire's most iconic leisure venues, The Villa at Wrea Green, through their property investment company Dixon Grange for £3.6m.

The Villa joins several other leisure companies already in the group including Mill Farm Sports Village, the home of AFC Fylde, Cark Manor and Aynsome Manor two five-star properties near Cartmel in the Lake District.

David Haythornthwaite, group chairman, said: "We are delighted to complete this deal and add this iconic venue to our portfolio.

"Ever since I was a young man and went there for dinner on my very first date, it's been a place I have coveted. I never thought it would come up for sale but when it did, I was determined we would get it.

"We have over 100 weddings booked at the venue stretching out to 2027 and it's important we honour these wherever possible.

"Due to the uncertainty and rumours surrounding its future, most of the existing team had resigned before the purchase so we had a tricky first weekend, to say the least.

"Our plan is to build on the legacy left and turn it into one of the North West's premier conference and banqueting facilities.

"It’s a little tired right now but we intend to go straight to work in bringing the existing facilities up to scratch and then adding more over the next two years.

"All in all we expect to invest roughly the same amount we paid for it last week.

"I want to thank everyone involved in making this happen, it's not been the easiest purchase we ever made but it's done now."

In April, Lancashire Business View reported the picturesque country house hotel dating back to the 19th century, had appointed administrators.

Martyn Rickels and Anthony Collier, partners at specialist business advisory firm FRP, were appointed to lead the administration and sale process.

The award-winning parkland venue is a 31-bed hotel, function suites and restaurant.