The new Haigh Hall hotel will have 30 bedrooms, as well as a spa and a fitness centre. The building’s renovation is expected to take two years.
The new hotel will open as part of the Haigh Woodland Park development, which will see a total investment of £12m to transform both Haigh Hall and its surrounding country park. Wigan Council will invest £4m in the project, while leisure and culture partner WLCT will invest the additional £2m.
Director of Contessa Hotels Craig Baker said: “We are delighted to be part of such an engaging and unique project as Haigh Woodland Park.
“Haigh Hall is steeped in history and we are excited about restoring it and transforming it back to its very finest, opening the doors to its adoring public 365 days a year.
“The hall is an iconic structure in the region and we look forward to introducing it to our Contessa portfolio.”
Haigh Woodland Park development
The development will also see the transformation of the Stables Courtyard outside the hotel into the ‘Kitchen Courtyard’, which will play host to local food and drink producers.
A family adventure zone with high ropes, adventure golf, and play equipment will be set up nearby, and the park will gain a cycle centre on site. Wigan Council believes that the Haigh Woodland Park will contribute £30m a year to the local economy when it is completed.
Councillor David Molyneux, deputy leader of Wigan Council and cabinet member for the economy, said: “The plans we have unveiled will put Haigh on the list of the top visitor attractions in the North West, creating jobs and restoring the hall for future generations to enjoy.
“We are also delighted to be working in partnership with a top quality organisation such as Contessa, which has a great track record of lovingly restoring buildings such as Haigh Hall and we’re excited about what it has planned.”