About Shire Hotels

• Shire Hotels is a trading name used by Daniel Thwaites plc, the family-controlled brewing and pub company based in Blackburn, Lancashire. With 200 years of heritage and history we are proud of our family connections and take pride in approaching all areas of business with honesty and integrity.

  Shire Hotels operate a collection of first-class 4 star hotels in key locations across the UK. Renowned for their attention to detail, each hotel has an individual character and style, but all six are united in their relaxed professional approach to service and hospitality. In addition to stylish guest rooms and suites, the hotels offer contemporary meeting facilities, an extensive spa with treatments and fantastic dining options. Each Head Chef works with local suppliers to create menus that are both local and seasonal, showcasing the best of the region.
  

  • Penrith hotel - Lake District
  • Knutsford hotel
  • Kettering hotel
  • Bristol hotel
  • Fareham hotel
  • Leeds hotel
    
  • Lodgeonthepark.com - Bristol - a 36 bedroom lodge in Bristol
  • The Parsons Collar - a food-led public house in Fareham

  Thwaites Inns of Character
  Managed by Shire Hotels - Thwaites Inns of Character are set to revive the traditional aspects of ‘inn-keeping’ with strong emphasis on exceptional hospitality, good quality en suite bedrooms, locally sourced food on all menus and a wide range of cask ales and fine wines. 

  • The Millstone at Mellor
  • The Lister Arms
  • The Lion at Settle
  • The Inn at Keswick
  • The Fleece at Cirencester
  • Penny Street Bridge

  Corporate office for the company is based at our parent company’s brewery site in Blackburn.

• The environment

  Shire Hotels are committed to minimise our impact on the environment through a company-wide programme that includes appropriate targets, operational procedures and measures to recycle products and resources where possible.
  
  Our approach to the environment is based on the following principles:

  • To identify the effects our activities have on the environment.
  • To minimise the use of utilities and resources as well as our outputs of emissions to the atmosphere, effluents to water and sewers and wastes to disposal facilities through effective systems of reduction, re-use and recycling where appropriate.
  • To, where practicable, purchase products, services and resources from local suppliers in order to reduce the environmental impacts of transportation.
  • To effectively communicate our environmental policy both internally and externally and to respond to comments and enquiries from interested parties where appropriate.
  • To ensure that environmental responsibilities are clearly defined, communicated and understood at all levels of the organisation, providing appropriate training where necessary.
  • To communicate our environmental policy to suppliers and contractors, when doing so will contribute to the minimisation of our environmental impacts.
  • To strive for continual improvement in our environmental performance, with effective procedures in place to monitor progress and development and, where necessary, the review and amendment of our environmental policy, targets, objectives and practices.

  The following are some of the recent initiatives introduced to help reduce, reuse or recycle whilst protecting a high standard of service to guests.
  
  Energy Initiatives include:
  

  • Motion activated lights in appropriate public areas
  • Dual flush toilets fitted in all new developments and as rooms are refurbished
  • Low energy light bulbs
  • Energy efficient windows to reduce the need for heating in winter and air-conditioning in summer
  • PC monitors/TV’s/photocopiers/lights turned off as a standard when not in use
  • Building management systems to control temperatures throughout the hotel
  • Environmentally friendly cleaning products used where possible
  • The use of solar panels to support conventional hot water heating boilers.
  • Aerated shower heads to reduce water consumption whilst protecting shower pressure.

  Recycling Initiatives include:

  • Compact waste so less collections are required
  • Waste paper recycling bins in meeting rooms and offices
  • Recycle glass and plastic bottles
  • Seek recycled goods when purchasing
  • Recycle print toners
  • Re-usable delivery containers from suppliers requested3
  • Recycle cardboard and newspapers
• Hotel accessibility
  Our approach is to offer a welcoming and inclusive environment to all guests, whatever their needs.
  
  We have worked with external consultants to ensure that we comply with DDA legislation and offer:
  
  

  • Adapted guestrooms
  • Induction loops
  • Designated car parking
  • Access to all areas of the hotel
  • Assistance dogs are welcome
  • All new employees are taken through an induction programme which helps them to understand the role they have in making all our guests welcome

  You'll find more specific information about facilities and access on each hotel's home page.

• Community support

  We understand that each hotel has the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the local community and actively encourage this in many ways, including:

  • Charitable work - each hotel chooses a local good cause to work with on an ongoing basis. This means we can make a real and measurable difference to a charity and creates a focus for our charitable support.
  • Sourcing local produce - developing strong relationships with local suppliers to showcase the regions produce and reflect the seasonality of the year
  • Partnering other local tourism businesses - to jointly promote the area to visitors
  • Providing local employment
  • Working with local schools and colleges in ways that support their aims and highlight opportunities for careers in the hospitality industry
  • Sponsoring local young sportspeople with gym memberships to help training regimes and fitness.

  
  Our parent company, Daniel Thwaites, also works with local communities and raises money each year for nominated charities through activities and events, and guest appearances of the magnificent Thwaites Shire Horses.