SEVENTY years of hospitality have drawn to a close at a much-loved family-run hotel.

Miles and Catherine Whitelock, and their elder son Paul, have checked out their last-ever guests at Heaves Hotel, marking the end of an era of crisp white tablecloths, champagne coupes and dainty butter curls at the Georgian country house close to Levens.

"Somebody said to us the other day, you can't close, you're an institution, like the parish church," Catherine told the Gazette. "A lot of guests have left in tears because they are just so upset to leave. It's completely blown us away."

Since the first holidaymakers arrived at Easter 1947, Heaves' 13 bedrooms have welcomed everyone from Prime Minister Harold Wilson to famous musicians and sportsmen - as well as countless societies, charities, dinner clubs, concerts, motor shows and weddings.

"It's been a privilege being part of so many people's lives," said Catherine, a keen needleworker and flower arranger.

"That has come to the fore this last month when people have been coming back for one last stay, one last meal, and they reel off what we've been part of. It's so nice to feel people have appreciated what we've done."

Miles told the Gazette many of Heaves' present-day customers are the grandchildren of visitors first welcomed by his great-aunt, Betty Douthwaite, and grandma, Isabel Bracken. Miles' parents Tom and Anna, and his uncle and aunt, Minnie and Ned Southwell, were the second generation to run the hotel, which was a temperance house until 1989.

"It's the family atmosphere, it's different to a hotel," said Catherine. "It's a home that happens to be a hotel, not the other way round."

Back in February 1966 when PM Harold Wilson took a break from the campaign trail, he made the The Sunday Times' front page, seated in Room 6's rocking chair, and The Westmorland Gazette pictured him descending the sweeping staircase, pipe in hand.

Guests have also included Lord Whitelaw, complete with armed escort while he was the Northern Ireland Secretary; Everton FC team; cricketer Ian Botham, Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen and keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman. Singer Ralph McTell played the hotel's grand piano and signed Catherine's copy of Streets of London, his 1974 hit.

Miles, a respected rally co-driver and life member of Kirkby Lonsdale Motor Club, was born on the Heaves estate and joined the hotel in 1972. He and Catherine married 38 years ago and have two sons, Paul and Richard.

Toby, son of Paul and his wife Kim, marks the fifth generation at Heaves.

The hotel is to go on the market this summer. Cath’s Garden Plants, Crockery Crisis hire service and The Old Stables Cottages will be unaffected by the closure.

The family say they will take many memories with them and hope to to find a buyer who will love Heaves as much as they have done.

"We couldn't have done it without such wonderful customers and such wonderful staff," added Catherine.