By Matthew Legg Business editor

Last updated at 14:04, Thursday, 05 April 2012

A former Cumbrian hotels boss has taken control of the luxury Sharrow Bay resort.

Andrew McKenzie

Andrew McKenzie, who ran the Crown Hotel, Wetheral and Penrith’s North Lakes Hotel in the 1990s, will oversee the Ullswater venue for administrator Ernst & Young.

His company LV Hotels will take over the day-to-day running of the Sharrow Bay while attempts continue to find a new owner.

The hotel was put up for sale in June last year after the collapse of former owner Von Essen amid financial difficulties.

The venue’s staff and management will be kept in place under the new arrangement.

Mr McKenzie said: “The plan is for us to nurture and look after the hotel to ensure it is in the best possible shape for any future buyer.

“I’ve known the hotel for more than 30 years. It is an iconic hotel with a wonderful history and heritage, our plan is to cherish all that is good about it and hopefully make some improvements that our guests will approve of. Evolution rather than revolution is our aim.”

Mr McKenzie, who is now based in Berkshire, has already travelled up to the Sharrow Bay and says he has been impressed with what he has seen.

“The fact that the hotel is up for sale is no reflection on its recent performance,” he said.

“The problems were to do with the structure of the company that previously owned it, which ended up getting into difficulty during the credit crunch.

“I hope to open the hotel up to more local people.

“I think there’s a view locally that it’s only for residents which is not the case at all. Anybody can come in, enjoy a meal and enjoy that fantastic view.”

Sharrow Bay sits in 12 acres of gardens on the shores of Ullswater and boasts a Michelin star restaurant and 24 bedrooms.

First published at 11:27, Thursday, 05 April 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk