THE Chief Executive of Visit England has officially re-opened the tourist information centre in Windermere.

The Mountain Goat, which provides guided tours around the Lake District, has spent £150,000 redeveloping the centre since it successfully won the tender from South Lakeland District Council in October.

Services including Wi-Fi, luggage storage, car hire, accommodation and attraction tickets are now available at the Victoria Street centre, which has been renamed Windermere & Lake District Information.

James Berresford, Chief Executive of Visit England, was joined at the opening by members of the Mountain Goat company including chairman Norman Stoller, managing director Stephen Broughton, commercial director Peter Brendling and director Peter Nattrass.

Mountain Goat will be operating tours from the site and have opened a café with indoor and outdoor seating.

The upper floor has been redesigned to incorporate the Mountain Goat staff team, but also retain the information desk, retail area, and information displays which will be available for use by local businesses.

Downstairs has also been re-opened after last being used in 1990’s and it will have a café serving teas/coffees, chocolate, and soft drinks with sandwiches, paninis, cake and biscuits either to eat in or takeaway for people on the move.