Member Article

Cheshire Hotel Powers up for Bright Future

The Best Western Plus Pinewood on Wilmslow Hotel in Handforth has completed work to install new metering and energy infrastructure as part of a major programme of investment to power its future growth plans.

The hotel was purchased in 2011 as a sister property to the award winning Best Western Plus Castle Green Hotel Kendal.

The four-star Cheshire hotel, just four miles from Manchester Airport, worked with energy management consultancy Orchard Energy on the upgrade which will ensure energy supplies to the hotel meet the future demands of the business as it pushes ahead with refurbishment and development.

The Pinewood has added 12 new executive bedrooms taking the bed stock to 70 rooms. In addition the ground floor has been re-modelled and boasts its new and contemporary Restaurant One Eighty and bar with alfresco dining on the new patio overlooking the gardens.

The Tatton Suite function room has also been refurbished ahead of the peak summer wedding season and a state of the art induction kitchen has been created to produce innovative dishes with a twist.

Julie Chapman, Finance Director of the Pinewood, said the metering work had been designed to future proof the property’s energy supply and improve efficiency.

“We have a great product following the refurbishment works and our challenge is to ensure we continue to invest in the property so that it meets the needs of modern visitors” she said.

“As an independent hotel Company, we pride ourselves on our welcoming atmosphere and this is something that everyone works hard to maintain as we modernise and expand.”

The hotel management worked closely with Orchard’s energy solutions team to plan the metering project which had to be turned around quickly to enable building work to progress.

Marie Titley, energy solutions manager at Orchard Energy, said: “Major building works often require a review of energy infrastructure to be certain that the supply will meet the future needs of the business.

“Once we had established what was needed we had to work quickly to avoid holding up the improvement works, overseeing the installation of a half hourly meter and connection in just two weeks, one of the fastest turnarounds we’ve ever seen.

“As well as ensuring the hotel’s energy supply continues to meet its needs as it grows, the new metering will help to improve efficiency,” she said.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .