£100,000 facelift for Longmynd Hotel in Church Stretton

An iconic hotel in south Shropshire will undergo a £100,000 facelift ahead of the tourist season, its new owners said today.

Scaffolding has been put up at the Longmynd Hotel in Church Stretton as workmen begin to do repairs and refurbishment over the next four to six weeks.

HF Holidays bought the hotel overlooking the Long Mynd in February and says work will include replacing windows, repairing balconies and fixing masonry.

Hotel manager James Tully said the work would help give guests the 'best experience' when staying at the hotel.

He said: "We are busily preparing for the first summer season of walking and leisure activity holidays at the Longmynd Hotel and it is very exciting to see it come to life with all the improvement works.

"We look to offer our guests – from local diners to walkers from across the UK – the best experience at our new base in Shropshire hills." Hotel chiefs have stressed they are still open for business and taking bookings for both rooms and the restaurant.

They added the work should be completed prior to the first scheduled holiday by HF Holidays, a guided walking break starting on June 8.

HF Holidays is operating the hotel on a five-year lease-purchase arrangement. The hotel was put on the market for £1.75 million in October last year by long time owners the Chaplin family. Fraser Lord, head of hotel operations at HF Holidays, said: "The Longmynd is a fantastic country house with all the facilities for great sociable holidays. We're very much looking forward to welcoming members and guests at this new location."

Hotel bosses have invited local community and tourism representatives from the area to join them at an open day on July 21 following the improvement works.