A COUNTRY hotel has been bought for £1.2 million by a couple who intend to ‘regain its excellent reputation’.

The Mercure Foxfields Country Hotel in Billington has been purchased by the former owners of the Sparth House Hotel at nearby Clayton-le-Moors, Charles and Jean Haigh.

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Owners Aviva Life and Pensions UK Ltd placed the hotel on the market confidentially in May.

Mr and Mrs Haigh said that they intended to rebrand the hotel and aim to regain the excellent reputation that it used to enjoy.

Mr Haigh already knows the hotel very well as he was working with Beverly Hotels Ltd who were responsible for the building of the all suited rooms in 1989 when it achieved the AA 4 star rating.

After a period of refurbishment the new owners say they will be offering luxury accommodation and excellent dining facilities.

The hotel has 44 bedrooms including 28 suites, a health club and spa, indoor swimming pool, five conference and banqueting rooms and a restaurant and bar.

Jean Haigh said: “The Foxfields is a wonderful opportunity for us and we’re delighted to be back in the area after being at Sparth House between 1998 and 2008.

“We will remain open as we refurbish and have very exciting plans for the restaurant.

“We want to bring back ‘heart’ to the hotel and we believe a family-run approach will soon pay dividends.”

Mr and Mrs Haigh have two children, their daughter Nicola works in London and their son David will be working with them.

He has experience working within the hospitality industry and is relishing the challenge according to his parents.

Neil Thomson is associate director at the North West office of Colliers International who secured the sale.

He said: “The hotel was placed to the market confidentially in May 2014, and after a flurry of interest, experienced hotel operators Charles and Jean were successful in securing the purchase.

“They both have a huge amount of local experience which will serve them well.”