en.Wedoany.com Reported - North West England contractor Russell WBHO has completed the £70 million renovation of Mere Golf Resort & Spa in Cheshire, transforming it into a luxury five-star hotel.

The project, commissioned by UAE-based Select Group in three phases, involved the expansion, renovation, and refurbishment of the resort in Knutsford, with the aim of repositioning the property as Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere.

Works included upgrading 81 existing guest rooms to five-star standards and adding 35 new rooms, including a three-storey, 24-bedroom extension. The conference centre was also expanded with two additional floors: the ground floor provides event space for up to 1,000 people, a pre-function bar area, and a large commercial kitchen; the first floor features a new golf club lounge, outdoor terrace, and meeting rooms. Other upgrades include a new restaurant operated by Gordon Ramsay and the transformation of the original Orangery, now converted into a champagne and oyster bar. The final phase also encompassed 10,000 square metres of hard and soft landscaping, car park improvements, and new external lighting.

Gareth Russell, Managing Director of Russell WBHO, said it was a diverse project combining new build, refurbishment, and heritage expertise, with the team working closely with Select Group from pre-construction to completion to design and carefully sequence each phase of work. Israr Liaqat, Group CEO of Select Group, added that the project sets a new benchmark for five-star hospitality in the North West, offering luxury accommodation, world-class spa and golf experiences, exceptional dining, and grand event spaces. Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere is the fourth Fairmont-branded property under Accor in the UK, alongside Fairmont Windsor Park, Fairmont St Andrews, and The Savoy, managed by Fairmont.