A LANDMARK Lakes hotel in the same ownership for half a century has been sold after being put on the market for £2.4m.

Rothay Manor Hotel and Restaurant in Ambleside - run by the Nixon family since 1966 - was bought by Jamie and Jenna Shail, the owners of an 'up-market' ski chalet business at Courchevel in the French Alps.

Nigel and Gwyneth Nixon, the second generation of the family to run the hotel, are retiring to live locally.

The deal was secured by the specialist hotels team at the Manchester office of real estate advisors Colliers International.

The agency's associate director Haydn Spedding said: “Jamie and Jenna have great experience in the hospitality industry and will continue with their ski chalet business in France.

"They look forward to continuing and enhancing the reputation of Rothay Manor and are introducing new key staff to the business including the former head chef of the three rosette East Lodge in Derbyshire.”

Mr Spedding added: “This transaction heralds an encouraging start to 2016 following an excellent 2015 for the hotels team at Colliers International with the sale of 125 hotels in the Lake District, Cumbria and elsewhere in the UK illustrating a significant improvement in activity in the hospitality sector.”