Strong demand for weddings, many of which cost tens of thousands, has helped treble profits to more than £1m at the 48-bedroom Peckforton Castle in the heart of the Cheshire countryside.
The grade I-listed castle-turned hotel is also starting to reap the rewards of a transformational year that involved upgrading spa facilities, increasing its kitchen, creating an executive boardroom and introducing a wine-tasting room.
Majorstage, which trades as Peckforton Castle, posted pre-tax profits of just over £1m in the year ending 31 October 2014, up by 191 per cent on a year earlier. Turnover climbed by 5 per cent to £6.3m over the same period.
In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors highlighted the growing importance of weddings to the business. They reported that Peckforton Castle held 190 weddings in 2012/13 of which 17 were held on an exclusive basis, which commands a price premium, whereas in 2013/14 it hosted 190 weddings of which 23 were on an exclusive basis and in 2014/15 it already has significantly more exclusive weddings lined up.
Besides the accommodation and wedding business, Peckforton Castle runs the 1851 Restaurant and 2010 Brasserie. It also hosts the Cheshire franchise of Land Rover Experience, a falconry and a sports activity centre.
A Peckforton Castle spokesman told Insider: "Our unique product and service-focused approach has compounded our ability to post more positive accounts year on year. Recognition of the commitment, dedication and sheer determination to continuously improve is a major attribute of our team here.
"It's for these reasons we believe the future is bright, with both top line sales and bottom line profit showing continued growth next year."
Built in the 1840s, Peckforton Castle is a grade I-listed building near the village of Tarporley.
In June 2011, Peckforton Castle made national headlines when a fire caused more than £5m of damage. In March 2012, Max Kay from Liverpool was sentenced to six years in prison for starting the fire on his wedding night following an argument with staff over settling his bill.