Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere: Knutsford's grand estate reopens in style

For years, The Mere near Knutsford was best known as a golf club and spa. This summer it reopened as something altogether grander: Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, a luxury resort set in 157 acres of parkland beside The Mere lake.

The hotel opened on 10 July 2026 after a transformation led by Dubai-based Select Group, which bought the estate and committed around £125 million to its redevelopment, operated under the Fairmont luxury hotel brand. It is one of the most significant hotel openings Cheshire has seen in years.

At its heart is Mere Old Hall, a house with roots in the 17th century, long associated with the Brooke family. The restoration has brought the resort to 116 bedrooms, including 23 suites, alongside newly designed public spaces and wellness facilities.

Food is a big part of the draw. The headline restaurant is Gordon Ramsay at The Mere, serving refined British dining with signatures including Beef Wellington and dishes from the robata grill. Elsewhere, afternoon tea is served in The Orangery, The Club Lounge offers all-day lakeside dining with British and Indian dishes, and a Spa Bar focuses on lighter, wellness-minded plates.

Golfers have not been forgotten. The estate's 18-hole course, a long-standing part of The Mere's story, sits alongside a driving range and lessons, while the spa and health club offer treatments, hydrotherapy, fitness and Pilates classes.

For Knutsford, the opening adds a new name to a town that already punches above its weight for places to eat and stay, and it sits within easy reach of Tatton Park, the Georgian town centre and the rest of the Cheshire countryside. For anyone planning an autumn or winter staycation, it offers lakeside walks, a spa day and a proper dinner without leaving the county.

It is also a reminder of Cheshire's growing pull as a destination. A historic estate given a new lease of life, a celebrity chef on the menu and a setting that needs no filter: The Mere has well and truly been put back on the map.

Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere is on Chester Road, Mere, near Knutsford. Details and bookings at fairmont.com.