A HOTEL in Little Sutton has been renamed Mercure Chester North.
The 75-roomed hotel, formerly known as the Woodhey House Hotel, Berwick Road, has been taken over by the Mercure chain.
Owners have already decided to cash in on tourist interest in Cheshire by referring to the hotel as ‘Chester North’.
However, its website does promote Ellesmere Port based tourist attractions Blue Planet Aquarium, the National Waterways Museum and Cheshire Oaks.
Ellesmere Port mayor Gareth Anderson has mixed opinions on the name change.
He said: “I am very excited that an international hotel brand such as Accor is enthusiastic enough about Ellesmere Port to invest here especially as this well known hotel is in my ward.
“However, while I am disappointed at their use of ‘Chester North’ to describe its location, it is pleasing to see that they stress on the hotel’s webpage that there are lots of great things to see and do here in Ellesmere Port.
“I believe that the incorrect perception some have of our town is going to continue to be challenged over the coming years as the council improves our area.
“It is interesting to note that both Travelodge and Holiday Inn refer to hotels as being in Chester even when those particular buildings are located in Wales.”
Mercure hotels, part of the Accor group – the second largest mid-scale hotel chain in the world with more than 700 hotels in 50 countries, opened 10 hotels across England last week.
The new Mercure hotels join the UK network after a franchise agreement.
