Pete’s paradise

The view from the balcony. You can see why Peter fell in love with the project

Hotel transformed to its former glory

IT was used as a retreat by a famous writer and attracted some of the first package holiday tourists — but now a historic Majorca hotel has been woken from its slumbers by a former Oldham businessman.

The charming Hotel Sins Pins, in the Port de Pollença resort, was facing an uncertain future when it was spotted by Peter Buckley, who saw it as a dream restoration project.

The former owner of bedding firm Slumberland, Peter (70) jumped at the opportunity to rescue the idyllic business from administration and has breathed new life into the picturesque hotel.

He said: “I bought it just two days before it went into receivership.

“Outside the paint was peeling off, but we got stuck in and opened it in record time.

“Everybody was delighted that the place was back open.”

Well-known locally, Peter chased the sun to the Spanish island in 1996 after selling the famous bedding firm.

Born in Chadderton, he has owned businesses around the world and is now based in Andorra, where he owns a ski-hiring business, several bars and spends his time on the slopes.

On a rare visit to Greenfield, where he used to live, he said: “I created jobs in Oldham because I was born there.

“I miss those people. Everyday going in work was a pleasure.

“It would be fantastic if people could come over and visit.”

His latest venture, named after the six pine trees which once stood outside, first opened in 1952 and fast became a firm favourite with the first-ever package holidaymakers.

Novelist Agatha Christie even used the hotel as a relaxing retreating while penning her novel Problem at Pollensa Bay.

With bookings now flooding in for the summer season,

Peter’s entrepreneurial flair shows no sign of slowing down.

He said: “It’s like a disease, I can’t help but take on these projects. It’s the challenge that I love.

“It is an absolute pleasure to be able to put right a much-loved hotel.”

A well-known restaurant company is due to open at the hotel this year to add to the existing sushi bar.