BOLTON Wanderers have taken over the luxury hotel attached to the Reebok Stadium.

And the catering at both the De Vere Whites hotel — now renamed the Bolton Whites — and the Reebok Stadium will now be run by Bolton-born celebrity chef, Paul Heathcote.

Since the stadium’s opening in 1997, the hotel in the south stand has been held in a joint venture between the football club and De Vere Venues.

Now the club has assumed full control and it will run as an independent business under the Bolton Wanderers umbrella.

The change will also see Heathcotes, founded by life-long Wanderers fan and two-Michelin star chef Paul Heathcote, provide the all the catering.

The club's chief operating officer, Bradley Cooper, said: “This move makes sense to all involved. We’ve been able to reach an agreement with De Vere to take sole ownership of the hotel.”

Hotel manager Suzanne Speak said: “This new venture will allow us to significantly improve our customers’ experiences. Our focus will very much be on service excellence and maximising the potential of this unique venue.”

Mr Heathcote said: “This development is a dream come true for me, being a fan of the football club. I look forward to working with the club that I have supported since I was a boy.”

The clubs has said more details will be announced over the coming weeks but a preview lunch was held for 300 guests to have a taste of what is to come.

Cllr Andy Morgan, a Wanderers supporter, attended. He said: “Paul Heathcote is a life-long Wanderers fan and a real ‘foodie’. He’ll be really good at bringing the food and culinary skills that the club deserves.

“Under the new arrangement food will be sourced locally, where possible, which will be a massive boost for the local economy.

“This development is excellent news. It shows the aspiration of the football club and, if they deliver what is planned, it will be exceptional. All the catering is being done by Paul Heathcote, from the kiosks around the stadium to the big dinners and events in the hotel.

The hotel was previously part of the DeVere Venues chain of 30 conference centre-focused sites across the UK with 3,000 bedrooms.

The chain was valued at about £300 million and put up for sale earlier this year.

DeVere Group hired investment bank Lazards to sell the venues, after receiving approaches from various potential buyers.

Most of the venues are in the south east of England.

DeVere has declined to comment on the Reebok changes, saying it is no longer involved in running the hotel.