The Whitehall Hotel & Restaurant in Darwen, UK, has been divested to The Lawrence Hotel in Padiham owner Michael Huckerby.

Specialist property adviser Christie & Co finalised this sale, whose financial terms remain undisclosed.

Offering 15 bedrooms, Whitehall Hotel is located on approximately 1.8 acres at the foot of the West Pennines. It was originally constructed as a private residence in 1898. 

The hotel includes period features, such as a sandstone fronted elevation, a panelled sweeping staircase, decorative ceilings, an open fireplace, and a 16ft chandelier.

It also offers two function suites, a restaurant, and a gin bar with its own distillery.

Whitehall Hotel also provides guests with an afternoon tea service, a two-hour Gin Masterclass and a one-hour Gin Taster session. 

Huckerby said: “We are thrilled to be taking over the Whitehall Hotel and will be looking to start a rolling refurbishment, to bring the building back to its former Victorian glory.”

Christie & Co. Hotels associate director Tom O’Malley said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for an operator looking to expand their portfolio. The hotel has undergone a significant refurbishment and restoration programme since it was acquired by the previous owners in 2003, and we have no doubt Michael, and his team, will continue to build on their success.”

Last month, Christie & Co closed the sale of the Seamill House Hotel, a boutique property in North Ayrshire, to hotel operator Suraj Thapa.

The property had been under the same ownership for the last ten years before the latest acquisition.