A LUXURY hotel in East Lancashire has achieved a county first for the “excellent service” it provides.

The Stanley House Hotel and Spa in the Ribble Valley, owned by the Walker family, is the only establishment in Lancashire to be given a VisitEngland Rose award for its service.

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General manager Philip Wharton said: “This award is a result of our continuous investment into creating an excellent customer experience and world-class facilities to match.

“We are proud to be recognised as national leaders in the leisure and hospitality industry and this is reflected by the excellent feedback from guests who have visited from across the UK.”

The 30-bedroom hotel in Mellor is just one of 16 places across the UK to receive the accolade in the VisitEngland Rose awards, which celebrates establishments that go the extra mile.

The hotel and spa opened in 2004 following a multi-million-pound refurbishment by well-known Blackburn businessman Fred Walker.

Fred died in 2012 but the hotel remains in the Walker family.

Fred was the brother of Jack Walker whose fortune turned Blackburn Rovers from a mediocre club into the Premier League champions.

The two of them were partners in the Walkersteel empire.

Other award winners include The Goring in London’s Belgravia and The Gilpin Hotel and Lake House in Cumbria.

Stanley House, which employs 141 people, already has a gold award from VisitEngland’s Quality Assessment scheme for its breakfast and the spa was awarded an exceptional ‘5 Bubbles’ rating by the Good Spa Guide.

Mr Walker transformed Stanley House from a dilapidated manor house into a grand hotel which went on to win the prestigious Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board’s Business Tourism Award in 2010. The main hotel was created from a Grade II listed building, with adjacent barns used to form a restaurant and function suite.

A few years ago the hotel underwent a huge expansion when 18 new bedrooms were added, together with a luxury spa.

Some of the 54 acres of land in which it is set is now maintained lawns and gardens and a lake has been created.