A new £3.1m leisure venue on the Merseyside coast says it has secured bookings up to 2024 just a month after opening. Tony McDonough reports

Just a month after opening the multi-million pound Lake House leisure venue in Waterloo has already secured bookings as far ahead as 2024.

After a troubled development process that saw Sefton Council terminate its contract with the original contractor, The Lake House finally opened in August. It has led to the creation of dozens of jobs.

Sitting next to Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre, The Lake House is home to a café and restaurant The Lake Kitchen, led by head chef Matt Cox, as well as 14 refurbished rooms as part of its accommodation offering. It has four conference and event spaces.

Event sales manager Natalie Nixon said: “The response that we have received so far has been fantastic. It has been brilliant to finally showcase what The Lake House has to offer.

“For a venue that is still very much in its infancy, we’re really pleased to see the demand that we anticipated and for our diary to be filling up with events. There has been a surge in wedding enquiries as well as people utilising our accommodation.”

Led by Sefton Hospitality Operations (SHOL) The Lake House is one of a collective of properties that are being considered for redevelopment as part of a long-term strategy for reinvestment throughout Sefton.

SHOL was created 12 months ago. Chair of the board of directors, Kellie Rixon, said: “Having opened only last month, we are already heading in the right direction. That is largely down to the fantastic team that we have there.

“The support we have received from the local community, tourists and those attending events here has been second to none. Collectively, we always knew the potential that the venue had, as long as the team were dedicated and onboard with our visions.”