AN iconic Windermere hotel has a new owner, after being bought by hospitality chain Daniel Thwaites.

The Grade II listed Langdale Chase hotel in Windermere was put on the market last year and following the change of ownership it will continue to operate as usual.

Chief executive at Thwaites, Rick Bailey, said: “We are delighted to add Langdale Chase to our growing family of hotels and inns. Its unrivalled location on the shores of Windermere provide incredible views of some of the Lake District’s most spectacular scenery so it fits well with our desire to build a collection of outstanding properties in great locations.

“We already have a number of other properties in the Lake District, including the North Lakes Hotel and Spa in Penrith, the Royal Oak Inn in Keswick and the Crown Inn at Pooley Bridge, so it’s an area we are familiar with and we are excited about the opportunity to add investment to Langdale Chase to develop its wonderful potential.

"The Lake District is a wild and beautiful place with a spectacular landscape, wildlife and cultural heritage and, later in the year, Unesco will decide whether or not to confirm its bid to become a World Heritage Site, which we very much hope it will.”

Langdale Chase hotel was originally built in 1895, with 29 en-suite guest bedrooms, an eight-bedroom lake house, a boat house and two jetties. It also has a recently-built, 24-bedroom staff accommodation building, a 15-bedroom former staff house and a three-bedroom gatehouse.

It has been run as a hotel since 1930, owned by the same family for the past 25 years and now the current directors have decided to retire, although Thomas Noblett, managing director of Langdale Chase, will remain involved with the hotel in an advisory role.

Mr Noblett said: “After more than 23 years together at the hotel, myself and my fellow directors have decided it is time to retire. Langdale Chase is the jewel in the crown of the Lake District with one of the most fantastic locations imaginable and we are pleased to pass it on into safe hands and to a company who has plans to make it even better.

"The hotel has a bright future and I am looking forward to working with Thwaites to make plans to cement the hotel’s position as one of the best in the United Kingdom.”