Stanley House Hotel and Spa offers a manor house retreat in Mellor

On the edge of the Ribble Valley, close to the village of Mellor, Stanley House Hotel and Spa has long been one of Lancashire's best-known country retreats. Its historic manor house, open countryside and well-regarded spa have made it a favourite for weddings, celebrations and quiet weekends away.

The house has a story of its own, and the hotel shares the history of the manor on its website for guests curious about the building they are staying in. Modern additions have been designed to sit alongside the older architecture rather than overwhelm it.

The hotel grew significantly in the early 2010s. Plans for a major expansion were drawn up, and a phase of work adding 18 new bedrooms and a luxury spa was completed in September 2012. The spa has since become one of the main reasons people visit.

Today the hotel describes itself as offering 30 first-class bedrooms, extensive wedding and conference facilities, a world-class spa and the hugely popular Fred's Brasserie. That combination has made it a natural choice for both overnight stays and special occasions.

Recognition has followed. Stanley House has collected local and national awards over the years, and it was named in the Sunday Times Ultimate 100 British Hotels list in 2014, placing it among the best hotels in Britain at the time.

The business also has a reassuring recent history. In 2020 Monte Hotels, owned by brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa of Euro Garages fame, acquired the operating business, a move that safeguarded 85 jobs at the Mellor hotel and secured its future as a hotel.

The setting remains a major draw. Mellor looks out across the Ribble Valley, an area loved for its walking, market towns and country pubs, and Stanley House makes a comfortable base for exploring places such as Clitheroe, Whalley and the surrounding fells.

Rooms, spa days and tables at Fred's Brasserie can be booked through the Stanley House website. For a restorative break that feels a world away while being close to Blackburn and Preston, it is well worth a look.