THE leisure firm owned by billionaire brothers from Blackburn has revealed plans for a ‘once in a generation’ transformation of its flagship hotel and spa.

Monte Leisure wants to create 70 more bedrooms at Stanley House in Mellor, expand its spa and leisure facilities and build a banqueting hall for weddings and other events with outdoor gardens.

The planning application also includes an extension to the hotel entrance and restaurant and expanding the car park to 400 spaces.

Lancashire Telegraph: New plans for Stanley House in Mellor

Part of the vision is also making the hotel the perfect base for Premier League and Championship football teams visiting the North West to play Blackburn Rovers, Burnley and Preston.

As reported in the Lancashire Telegraph, brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa behind the rapidly expanding petrol forecourt business EG Group bought the Ribble Valley hotel last year promising a huge investment. 

If approved, Monte said the plans would bring huge advantages to the local area.
A report to the planners said: “The economic benefits of the development which include 30 new full-time jobs, construction benefits of in excess of £20m and increased demand for goods and services from businesses leading to an aggregated net additional expenditure in local economy of £6.5m.

“It is intended to create a ‘once in a generation’ investment in the site to meet the requirements of the hotel operation.

“The hotel operation is a loss-making one and additional accommodation is required in order to ensure that it can become profit making and trade at a level that delivers a greater level of economic benefits.”

Stanley House was originally a small manor house which dates back possibly as early as the 1640s. Former owners the wealthy Walker family were behind its expansion into a premier hotel in the 2000s.

A planning application was approved for works on the site in 2009 but the main difference from that scheme is the new banqueting suite which ‘seeks to cater for growth in the market for large weddings and gatherings’.

Lancashire Telegraph: New plans for Stanley House in Mellor

READ: Asda, Caffe Nero, Stanley House and more - how the Issa Brothers lit up 2020

In the economic statement accompanying the application it said that the owners want to branch out to hosting football teams on site.

It said: “The ability to accommodate Premiership and Championship football teams, which was previously unachievable due to room volume, is of significance. 

“With Burnley, Blackburn and Preston all in close proximity, there is a good opportunity to host away teams in a relatively private environment that also provides associated spa and treatment facilities.”

Ribble Valley economic development boss Cllr Stuart Hirst has welcomed the plans.
He said: “The potential economic benefit to the area is very welcome and the investment is great. I look forward to seeing all the details of the scheme. To hear about attracting football clubs to the area would be commercially great for Ribble Valley.”

Late last year Monte opened a Hampton by Hilton hotel at Frontier Park on the outskirts of Blackburn.