We’ll even let you know about secret offers and sales when you sign up to our emails. Book Offer. Formerly known as Corus The Chace Hotel, the boutique establishment as we know today began life in July 2019, revealing its Laura Ashley transformation. Laura Ashley closed its flagship store on London's Regent Street in late 2005 because of rent increases.[21]. Early in the year, the long-standing relationship with Japanese company Aeon was terminated by Aeon due to reduced profitability of their Laura Ashley operations. Lake View. Despite these issues, profitability seemed to be returning to the company in the years immediately prior to the 2007 Global Financial Crisis. Sir Bernard Albert Ashley (11 August 1926 – 14 February 2009) was an English businessman and engineer. Both fashion and home accessories were attributed as strong areas for the company at this time. From 1953, Bernard left his city job and the couple began to expand the company, initially named Ashley Mountney Ltd incorporating Laura Ashley's maiden name. You cannot switch off these cookies. Sales totalled over £276 million in 2000. Scroll Down . Wireless internet is available in the entire hotel for free. Sales totalled over £276 million in 2000. As before, we are doing everything and more to make our hotel safe for our guests and employees. Preferred Hotels & Resorts has announced a global partnership with Laura Ashley which will see new and existing Laura Ashley Hotels brought under the Preferred brand. The hotel management company acquired the 49-bedroom Hertfordshire property from Laura Ashley for an undisclosed sum. Our friends had a ‘classic room’ more superior than ours but we paid more same money! [35] After struggling for several years, the company blamed its troubles on a "significant" drop in trade with no end of COVID-19 in sight. Complimentary Parking. Book Offer. There were some areas of concern emerging as the Global Financial Crisis took hold. Laura Ashley Hotel, The Belsfield is a four-star luxury hotel on the shores of Lake Windermere in the resort town of Bowness-on-Windermere in the Lake District. Turnover rose from £2,000 to £8,000 in 1960, which left them looking for new premises. Laura Ashley's first shop was opened where she lived in Machynlleth, Powys, in 1961, named Ashley Mountney, and Shrewsbury was home to one of the first stores under the Laura Ashley … Laura turned down the offer of an OBE because her husband Bernard was not also offered the honour,[9] but a Queen's Award for Export was accepted in 1977. Thank you, stay safe and well. Laura Ashley plans to expand its chain of hotels by converting more properties from its sister brand, Corus Hotels. Laura Ashley Hotel The Iliffe, Coventry is named after the family the property was constructed for in the late 1890s, Dr Charles Webb Iliffe, a well-respected figure in the local medical community, and his wife, a young debutante, Mary Ann Soden. The new company moved to Kent in 1955, but the business was nearly wiped out in 1958, when the River Darent overflowed – leaving equipment, dyes, and fabrics floating in three feet of water.[5]. If you would like more information about subscriptions or advertising, submit your email address below and one of our team will get back to you the same day. [2] In October 2020, it was announced that Laura Ashley would return to the high street in 2021 through Next's 500 UK stores & website, and with a series of new stores. Corus Hotels operates Laura Ashley Hotels on behalf of Laura Ashley plc at the following address: Corus Hotels Ltd. Corus House. Sales and marketing consortium Best Western GB has added seven properties to its portfolio following the signing of an agreement with Corus Hotels. [12] The alliance was established as a 10-year partnership, but it was relatively open-ended, premised on trust. In 1991, American James Maxmin became the CEO at Laura Ashley, aiming to refocus the company on its core business. Learn More Make an enquiry. By 1975, turnover was £5 million per year and the company employed 1,000 people worldwide. In the early 1990s, Laura Ashley plc was suffering from a combination of over expansion of its retail outlets and dependence on what had become an overly complex and costly outsourced network of manufacturers. The Laura Ashley style is characterised by Romantic English designs — often with a 19th-century rural feel — and the use of natural fabrics. Get the latest news stories and articles on Laura Ashley Hotels from the business journalists at Hotel Owner. [28] All 120 stores in Japan closed in September that year. Although the property is still owned by Corus Hotels, Laura Ashley's professional interior design service has brushed it finely up with the brand's infamous Home collections. Meetings. If you are travelling for business and need a place to stay, please visit our booking page for further details or give us a call. Company status Active Company type Private limited Company Incorporated on 7 October 2010 . [6] Turnover reached £25 million in 1979, and a range of perfume was launched. [23] The following year the company was involved in an acrimonious industrial dispute, again in the Republic of Ireland. Sir Bernard Albert Ashley (11 August 1926 – 14 February 2009) was an English businessman and engineer. Connectivity and Versatility . The hotel also has a two-AA-rosette restaurant. This property does not have lifts. [5] Laura designed the prints and Bernard built the printing equipment, so forging a complementary partnership that was to give the company its unique strength throughout the years. [8] A licensing operation led to the opening of department store concessions in Australia, Canada, and Japan from 1971 onwards.[5]. Laura Ashley Weddings. [15] Part of the rescue of the parent company involved selling off the United States operations for the sum of $1, the buyer being a company also controlled by MUI. The Chace Hotel will rebrand as Laura Ashley Hotel The Iliffe, Coventry, from 29 July 2019, Laura Ashley Hotels has announced. Set in 10 acres of gardens and natural woodland, Laura Ashley Hotel - The Manor Elstree could be from the pages of a storybook. The alliance replaced a legacy system that would route a T-shirt manufactured in Hong Kong to a warehouse in Newtown, Wales, before sending it to a retail store in Japan. Laura Ashley Hotel The Belsfield, Windermere, is in the heart of the Lake District National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty that was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2017. Laura Ashley Hotels has announced it is expanding its portfolio to include The Chace Hotel in Coventry. [29], At the very end of the year, Laura Ashley Australia suddenly went into administration, and when no buyer for the operation was found, all stores across Australia, as well as the online business, ceased operating at the end of 2018. With carol singers, sumptuous dinners, indulgent treats and elegant Laura Ashley designer accommodation, you can truly relax and enjoy all the season has to offer. With over 150 stores in the UK and 100 franchises worldwide the brand has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Laura Ashley (7 September 1925 – 17 September 1985) was a Welsh fashion designer and businesswoman. The hotel management company acquired the 49-bedroom Hertfordshire property from Laura Ashley for an undisclosed sum. Sir Bernard Ashley, widower to late fashion designer Laura Ashley, steps in with $5.5 million and rehires Arnold Palmer and architect Bob Paxton. Rescued from the receivers in 1998, 58 per cent of the shares are believed to be controlled directly or indirectly by the company's chairman Dr Khoo Kay Peng. Laura Ashley Hotel The Belsfield offers sport activities, such as mountain biking, windsurfing and mini golf. Although the traditional estate of the house has been reduced in size, today the château retains 35 acres of parkland. Its Burnham Beeches hotel near Slough was due to rebrand. [18] A positive direction seemed to be underway early in 2004 with the establishment of a relationship with Scottish couture designer Alistair Blair,[19] who had previously designed for Dior and Givenchy, and soon afterwards the company posted a profit compared with the loss of the previous year,[20] especially on the back of an expansion of home furnishing sales although clothing sales continued to decline. However, as the Aeon relationship was expiring in September 2018, it was announced that the Master Licence arrangement previously with Aeon had been taken up by the large Itochu Corporation which already had diverse interests in the textiles field. Locations . Hotel in totally furnished in Laura Ashley & is beautifully maintained both inside & out. There are two Laura Ashley hotels: the Belsfield in Windermere, Cumbria, and the Iliffe hotel in Coventry, both of which are owned and operated by Corus Hotels. [25] In 2012 the company responded with complacency to a significant number of negative online consumer reviews, pointing to improving sales and profitability figures, but the Financial Times, perhaps somewhat prophetically, commented "Laura Ashley may be right to shrug off online criticism. [31], Setbacks were also experienced in the UK operation. Countrywide Hotels has acquired Laura Ashley The Manor hotel and renamed the property the Manor Hotel Elstree. [8], Two months after Laura Ashley's death in 1985, Laura Ashley Holdings plc went public in a flotation that was 34 times oversubscribed. Here was an opportunity, and she started to print Victorian style headscarves in 1953. Laura Ashley Hotels. Internet. Malayan United Industries (MUI) is the parent company of Corus Hotels, a group of 8 hotels located across the UK including Corus Hyde Park, all of which have Guestline solutions installed. £99.50* Sunday Spa Break . Gordon Brothers has acquired Laura Ashley’s global brand, its archives and related intellectual property from administration. She originally made furnishing materials in the 1950s, expanding the business into clothing design and manufacture in the 1960s. Laura Ashley Hotels create the perfect setting for your forever memories. Find Out More. With over 150 stores in the UK and 100 franchises worldwide the brand has come a … The hotel sits amidst six acres of landscaped gardens with unrivalled views over England’s largest lake. When Laura looked for small patches carrying Victorian designs to help her make patchworks, she found no such thing existed. It also was to work successfully in the company's favour, as fashion switched from the mini to the maxi skirt at the end of the 1960s. In 1992, Maxmin led Laura Ashley to its first profits since 1989, and in 1993 profits were expected to reach £12 million. Bathroom excellent. [14] A new source of finance was desperately needed, and this was found in 1998 in a new relationship with the Malaysian MUI Group. The land, which the property is located on, boasts a colourful history dating back to 1257 and was once owned by King Henry VIII. Visit our, Preferred Hotels & Resorts partners with Laura Ashley, Burnham Beeches Hotel appoints new general manager, How automation in hospitality improves customer service and business productivity, How Hotels Can Maximise Income from Events in 2021, Staycations set to remain on an upward trajectory, Inn Collection Group acquires The Angel Inn, Belfry set to host next year’s British Masters, UKH: Tier 3 expansion will bring hospitality ‘further heartbreak’, Furlough scheme extended until April 2021. by Alessandro Carrara. Laura Ashley is a brand and trademark wholly owned by Laura Ashley plc. Itochu announced that they intended to "expand the offering at major department stores [and] specialty stores ... and showcase the appeal of the brand to new customer groups through an official e-commerce site and directly managed shops ... with target retail sales of 8.0 billion yen in three years". The family lived above the shop for six years before moving to Carno, Montgomeryshire. Copyright © 1997 - 2019 Mulberry Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. [34], In 2020, following the COVID-19 outbreak, Laura Ashley said it would file for administration, putting 2,700 jobs at risk. The hotel personnel speaks English, Hungarian, Romanian, Polish. [6] That same year, the first store in Japan was opened in Tokyo. Situated on the Eastern shore of Lake Windermere, directly overlooking the “Belle Isle”, The Belsfield is set in 6 acres of landscaped gardens. Bernard had developed his flat-bed printing process to produce 5,000 metres of fabric per week, and in 1966 Laura produced her first dress for social rather than work attire. It was founded by Bernard Ashley, an engineer, and his wife Laura Ashley in 1953 then grew over the next 20 years to become an international retail chain. Its products can be described as quintessentially English. In one week alone, London's Fulham Road shop sold 4,000 dresses[5] – which resulted in the new factory in Newtown, Montgomeryshire. 1991: Things get really ambitious as Villa Crawford swells from a big house to a mere sliver of a 32,600-square-foot, 48-guest room hotel. [6] A newspaper suggested that by donning a Laura Ashley number, women could look as beautiful as Katharine Ross in the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. [36], On 22 April 2020, it was announced that investment firm Gordon Brothers had acquired the Laura Ashely brand name, archives and intellectual property rights out of administration. Profits for 2005 stood at £6.1 million, and this figure was doubled in 2006 to £12.2 million,[22] representing the strongest performance since the MUI buyout. Laura Ashley plc celebrated its 40th anniversary in 1993, the same year that Sir Bernard retired as chairman and became honorary life president. 2 AA Rosettes. Copyright © 1997-2020 Mulberry Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. [3], On 17 March 2020, the company filed for administration. Let's Stay In Touch. In October 2002 it launched a £18m lawsuit against L'Oréal,[17] which manufactured the Laura Ashley perfumes; Laura Ashley was eventually awarded a reduced amount of damages, which however did not even cover the legal costs of the suit. 1 Auckland Park. One of the most significant initiatives at this time was a strategic alliance with FedEx, forming a sort of proto-federation, aimed at improving distribution for close to 500 Laura Ashley stores. Surrounded by 6 acres of landscaped gardens, The Belsfield Hotel offers luxury, sophistication and style to the most discerning of hotel guests. Its products can be described as quintessentially English. The hotel also has a two-AA-rosette restaurant. Sales totalled over £276 million in 2000. In May 1998, MUI Asia Limited became a major shareholder in Laura Ashley Holdings plc and under the new management, this world famous international brand was back in profit. Guest Parking. Audrey Hepburn inadvertently sparked the growth of one of the world's most successful fashion and home furnishing companies. Laura Ashley is one of the world’s best-loved fashion, home decoration and furnishing brands, synonymous with style, quality and designs that evoke memories of the English countryside. Laura Ashley - The Iliffe Hotel; Laura Ashley - The Iliffe Coventry; Laura Ashley - The Iliffe Hotel Coventry; Policies. The land, which the property is located on, boasts a colourful history dating back to 1257 and was once owned by King Henry VIII. Laura's inspiration to start producing printed fabric came from a Women's Institute display of traditional handicrafts at the Victoria & Albert Museum. [13] Over the next five years, four individuals were given the Chief Executive role in quick succession in an attempt to find a solution to the growing financial difficulties of the company, during which time the company's bankers became increasingly concerned. The new partnership includes two Laura Ashley properties: the 82-bedroom Belsfield in Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, and the 17-bedroom Iliffe in Coventry. Preferred Hotels & Resorts has announced a global partnership with Laura Ashley which will see new and existing Laura Ashley Hotels brought under the Preferred brand. Monday, 24 June 2019, 10:36 . Laura Ashley is one of the world’s best-loved fashion, home decoration and furnishing brands, synonymous with style, quality and designs that evoke memories of the English countryside. After World War II, Bernard Ashley met Welsh secretary Laura Mountney at a youth club in Wallington, London. [5], These were crucial times in the development of the company. MK1 1BU. It was subsequently re-sold as a hotel, and is now privately owned. We had a small double room that was very comfortable, extremely clean with all amenities but little space for storage. Darren Patt, managing director of Countrywide Hotels, said: "We are delighted to have acquired the Manor Elstree … Laura Ashley Hotel The Belsfield is a sophisticated 4 star hotel nestled on the banks of Lake Windermere in the Lake District. TEA ROOM MENU. [37], "Investment firm, Gordon Brothers, acquires Laura Ashley brand", Company Histories & Profiles: Laura Ashley Holdings plc, "How the florals and frills of Laura Ashley came to define an era", "Mark Ritson on branding: Laura Ashley's resurrection is not unthinkable", "Laura Ashley, British designer, is dead at 60", "Story: ブランドヒストリー (Story: Brand history)", "Maxmin quits Laura Ashley: Chief executive resigns after ongoing dispute over need to increase spending", "Laura Ashley awarded £2.9m in L'Oreal dispute", "Laura Ashley gets makeover from Scots design guru", "Laura Ashley posts its best results in 10 years", "Price is not right at Laura Ashley outlets", "Laura Ashley employee awarded £9k for discrimination", "Online reviews tell us less than we think", "Laura Ashley Australia enters voluntary administration", "Company Announcements: Laura Ashley Holdings PLC:Update on Laura Ashley Japan", "ITOCHU Announces Acquisition of the Exclusive Right of Import and Distribution and the Master License of "Laura Ashley" Brand", "Laura Ashley to shut down Australian stores after fruitless buyer hunt", "Laura Ashley sees Asia as its best hope for survival", "Laura Ashley to close 40 stores across UK", "Laura Ashley warns on full-year results in 'turbulent market, "Laura Ashley plunges to £14m annual loss", "Laura Ashley blames coronavirus as it heads for administration", "Coronavirus: Laura Ashley set to become first retail casualty of crisis", "Laura Ashley returns to UK high street after deal with Next", Our Heritage (Laura Ashley UK company history overview), Our Heritage (Laura Ashley USA company history overview), Story: ブランドヒストリー (Story: Brand history - Laura Ashley Japan history overview), Laura Ashley Holdings plc History @ Funding Universe, Sir Bernard Ashley obituary @ The Guardian, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Laura_Ashley_plc&oldid=994729273, Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 17 December 2020, at 06:56. 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