IN the latest in our series looking at Bolton's entries for the Manchester Tourism Awards 2007, Wes Wright reports on the De Vere Whites Hotel, which has been entered for the Large Hotel of the Year category THE Reebok is the only modern football stadium in the country to have an integrated 125-bedroom, four star hotel, including rooms and suites with pitch-side views.

Located 500 yards from Junction Six of the M61, the De Vere Whites Hotel is minutes away from the Middlebrook Retail Village, and has a glazed atrium lobby with glass lifts and a sweeping staircase.

General manager Sarah Gander said: "The hotel is unique not just in the North-west but in the whole of the country in being totally integrated into the stadium.

"Football fans can lie in bed and overlook the pitch and many women book special deals for their men so they can be near the pitch.

"We have 20 bedrooms that overlook the pitch and most of our function rooms overlook the pitch as well.

"We do about 60 weddings a year in the football close-season and all the function rooms have their own licence so people can get married there."

She said the hotel benefits from rock concerts at the stadium, has hosted Amir Khan fights and every June hosts televised World Darts.

She said: "We can host events with up to 1,000 people in our largest function suite. It's not just businessmen who visit here - we have people booking leisure breaks as well."

The hotel restaurant also attracts many residents who enjoy the modern European cuisine in Reflections - its double AA rosette restaurant.

Recreation facilities include an exercise room, 15-metre indoor heated pool, sauna and spa, with 10-pin bowling, cinema complex and shopping nearby at Middlebrook.

De Vere Whites has a conference and exhibition centre with five-star service banqueting facilities catering for up to 1,000 guests.

As well as the Reebok Stadium, Bolton Wanderers Visitor Centre and the Middlebrook Retail Village, The Arena with indoor tennis courts, outdoor football pitches and a gym is also close by.

l De Vere Whites Hotel, De Havilland Way, Bolton, 01204 667788.

Find all the stories on the awards on The Bolton News website at www.thebolton news.co.uk/ leisure/tourismawards