An award-winning hotel has been sold for conversion into a retirement home for Catholic priests.
The Green Bough Hotel and Olive Tree restaurant in Hoole Road, Hoole, had been a hotel for about 30 years with husband and wife team Philip and Janice Martin in charge for the past 18 years.
The 15-bed luxury hotel will turned into a retirement home for the Holy Ghost Fathers, a Roman Catholic congregation, with 12 en suite rooms for residents and four rooms for visitors. There will be a chapel in the conference room.
The former owners will now concentrate on their Tarporley-based cookery school at The Barn, with the second phase of the renovation now complete including two luxury bedrooms with en-suite shower, a spacious lounge, spa-bath, gym and infra-red sauna.
Mr Martin, 65, who was also the hotel’s chef patron, intends to take life a bit easier, saying proudly: “It’s the most awarded hotel in Chester, number one on Trip Advisor and was hotel of the year for the UK and I met the Queen because of its bearing.
“What it’s done for Chester is tremendous. It’s a shame it won’t be continuing as a hotel in a way, but on the other hand we won’t see it go down the plug hole.”
A founder member of the Cheshire Business Leaders group, he is pleased all the staff have found new jobs at local hotels.
Speaking about the Chester hotel trade generally, he said: “Nobody has done OK. The problem is not enough demand and too much supply. If we were in York we would be doing a lot better.”
Mr Martin understands the retired priests will come from London together with fathers from across the north west.
He believes the building will need change of use planning consent before the new home can open.
