The new owners of Sparth House hotel in Clayton-le-Moors, near Chorley, plan to set up a free shuttle bus to link it to their other hotel in the Lancashire town, Brook House hotel.

Their new three-star hotel is a popular wedding and function venue and its proximity to the M6 and M65 motorways puts it on the doorstep of huge population centres – Manchester city centre is just a short drive away, for instance.

The Grade II-listed Georgian property was built in 1740 as a private residence. It now offers 16 en-suite bedrooms to sleep 33 (one with oak furniture recovered from the famous Olympic ocean liner), a lounge bar, a 24-seat dining room and three function rooms.

These include the 40-seat Regency room, a main function suite marble dance floor and adjoining conservatory bar to accommodate 120 seated guests or 175 at a buffet, and a third suite for 100 guests seated or 200 at a buffet.

There is also a self-contained, two-bedroom flat for the owners and the current store room has been used in the past as a staff suite with lounge, bedroom, and shower room.

The large, 2.5 acre grounds incorporate formal lawns, woods and a walled garden, along with plenty of parking space.

The Manchester office of Colliers Robert Barry sold the freehold off an asking price of £1.6m to Shaun and Amanda Brelsford on behalf of Charles and Jean Haigh.

By Angela Frewin