A Grade-II Listed building in a charming South Lakes village has been brought back to life by new ownership and an extensive refurbishment.

Rachel Holcroft, from Cartmel who also owns Boutique Sheds in Cartmel, took over the old guesthouse in The Square, and has now renamed it Boutique Stays at Cartmel Square.

"After finally opening on Thursday, April 28, Rachel spoke of her pride at what she achieved in the grand old building:

"We were granted listed building consent on December 30, 2021 after a 6-month wait. 

"From a very tired, old building we’ve managed to restore and upgrade everything on the first and second floors and we will continue stage 2 renovations next January.

We have found gorgeous beams, old oak stairs, and stunning wood panelling hidden in a wall that must date back to 1600s.

The Mail: HISTORIC: Rachel has made use of the original, old features of the buildingHISTORIC: Rachel has made use of the original, old features of the building

"I'm so pleased, we're quite oldy-worldy downstairs, but I've tweaked it, so we've got really dark walls, dark-blue painted woodchip, with the fireplaces and nice new furniture, so it's old and new combined really.

"With the four rooms, we're not really family-orientated, we tend to be looking for the L'Enclume, the couples and the walkers stays, that's our clientele really.

Rachel also runs a cafe attached to the guesthouse and is open to the public, where her mother is the cook. also serving the world-famous Cartmel sticky toffee pudding, as well as other locally baked cakes.

After her opening weekend, she said: "It went really well, amazing! 
"I've been fully booked all weekend, but empty this week now, as word's got to get around, we have a website coming, and it's going to be a different season, a different year this year, with people going abroad again. 

The Mail: CHANGE: One of the refurbished bedrooms - with the previous incarnation insetCHANGE: One of the refurbished bedrooms - with the previous incarnation inset

"I've got 2 Boutique Sheds and the 4 rooms, so I'm trying to build a little portfolio so that my kids have got something to come back to.

"I do all the washing - I have an ironing lady so it's all in-house.

I've got local staff now aswell.
"Cartmel's now 365 days a year - it's a nice little quiet village with enough to do rather than perhaps heading up to the Lakes where it can get a bit frantic at times."