Family brewer Thwaites is to add to its new Thwaites Inns of Character portfolio with the historic Fleece Hotel in Cirencester.The Fleece is the latest acquisition by Thwaites and following an extensive refurbishment will be unveiled as the sixth Thwaites Inns of Character in late summer, taking the company a step further towards its goal of 25 character inns by 2016.
The Fleece was chosen for its location at the heart of the bustling Cotswolds market town – a destination popular with tourists wanting to explore the historic homes and gardens in Cirencester, as well as the picturesque villages in the wider Cotswolds area.
In addition to its prime location, The Fleece has 28 individual en-suite bedrooms, a main restaurant with 40 covers and a bistro restaurant for 50. It also has a main bar, courtyard space and car parking making it a perfect choice for Thwaites. The Fleece marks an important step for Thwaites as it is the first acquisition outside of its north-west heartlands. It will join the five other Thwaites Inns of Character including The Lion at Settle which opened its doors to the public just a week ago and is already proving popular with both local and tourists.
Antony Spencer, Managing Director of Shire Hotels, which has created the Thwaites Inns of Character brand, said of the expansion: “The Fleece has everything we look for in our Thwaites Inns of Character. It’s a great, historic building in a fantastic tourist spot and it expands our collection across a wider area which is part of the plan to create a national portfolio.
“We will now give The Fleece a new lease of life while staying true to its architectural and historic roots and hope to see it join our very successful Thwaites Inns of Character collection in late summer.”
