Family wins free use of Cranleigh Boutique hotel for weekend

One of the biggest prizes ever given by a UK hotel has been won by a family in Greater Manchester, following a campaign on Facebook.

The 18-bedroom Cranleigh Boutique hotel in Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, launched its Ultimate Prize competition on its Facebook page in June 2013 when it had 66,000 followers, with a view to announcing a winner once the property achieved 100,000 "likes".

Entrants had to explain in 20 words why they should win the so-called Ultimate Prize - the free use of the entire hotel for a weekend, including a Champagne reception, in package worth around £8,500.

Oldfield, whose children are aged eight, four and nine months, said she was in “complete shock” at having won the prize at what is an “amazing” time. “My fiancé, Stuart, has just returned from a six month tour of duty in the Falklands. He left when our son was only eight weeks old.Â

“He proposed to me just days before I discovered I had won the Ultimate Prize, so it’s been the best week!”

Stephen Hargreaves, owner of the hotel, said the magnitude of the interest in the competition had been unique and he was delighted that the hotel’s followers had chosen Oldfield as a very worthy winner.

“It’s our way of saying ‘thank you’ to everybody for their support on Facebook.”Â

Founded in 2007 by Hargreaves, the Cranfield Boutique hotel has consistently made use of social media campaigns to build its business. It recently won the Best Use of Facebook award at the UK Social Media Awards in London, beating Aldi, Evian and Visit England, while in March, it carried off the Best Use of Social Media award at the Travel Marketing Awards in London, beating P&O Ferries and Bournemouth Tourism.

Pictured: Charis Oldfield and her fiancé, Stuart Blease.

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