A boutique hotel and events venue has been sold to a Manchester leisure company.

Elle R Leisure, the company behind Dukes 92 in Castlefield and the Albert’s restaurants, has bought the 15-bedroom Soughton Hall at Sychdyn, near Mold , Flintshire.

The mansion house is next to the home of Chester -born former football star and pundit Michael Owen , and its famous guests over the years include Michael Jackson, Luciano Pavarotti, and King Juan Carlos I of Spain.

They have also taken on the Stables restaurant and bar.

Elle R Leisure says it plans to invest in the wedding and corporate side of the business and hopes to create more jobs. They confirmed all the current staff - which number around 15 - will remain.

The Grade II listed former Bishop’s palace was built in 1764 and was the ancestral home of the Wynne-Bankes.

Soughton Hall in Flintshire
Soughton Hall is a popular events venue

The hall was remodelled in 1820 by John William Bankes with the help of Sir Charles Barry, architect for the Houses of Parliament, who added the mullioned windows, the first floor drawing room and dining room and the Islamic turrets upon the court walls, inspired by their travels to the Middle East.

It was bought by John and Rosemary Rodenhurst in 1987 and opened as a boutique hotel and wedding venue.

When it was purchased the Hall required extensive refurbishment to return it to it’s former glory. John and Rosemary managed much of the work personally as well as raising their family.

But after nearly 30 years at the Hall they have decided to sell the property.

James Ramsbottom, managing director of Elle R Leisure, said: “This is a very exciting acquisition and adds another hotel to our growing portfolio to serve both the local market and also attract customers from Cheshire, Liverpool and Manchester.

“Soughton Hall is a stunning property that we feel has a lot of potential.

Sale figure not disclosed

“We will be keeping Soughton Hall and The Stables’ existing staff, and our intention is to build up the wedding and corporate business with a view to creating more jobs for local people.

“We look forward to bringing our expertise in the hotel management and corporate events and wedding hospitality to Soughton Hall.”

The sale figure has not been disclosed.

Elle R Leisure is a family-owned business based in Castlefield, Manchester.

The company has a turnover of £15m and employs approximately 500 people. It owns the Albert’s restaurants in Castlefield, Didsbury and Worsley as well at Woodlands hotel in Gildersome, Leeds and the Hello Hotel on the East Lancashire Road in Salford. It also owns Dukes 92 bar.