Hand Picked Hotels puts two hotels on the market with Christie + Co
Businesses for sale
Specialist property adviser Christie + Co has been appointed by Hand Picked Hotels to handle the sale of The Priest House Hotel, Derbyshire, and Seiont Manor Hotel, Caernarfon, as the group focuses on larger hotels of more than 30 bedrooms which fit the historic country house hotel style in the award-winning collection.
Julia Hands, Chairman and Chief Executive, Hand Picked Hotels, said: “After very careful consideration, the board has decided to sell these hotels. The Priest House is an attractive property in a lovely setting but it does not fit fully with the Hand Picked aspiration of an historic country house hotel. We also have a concentration of hotels in the Midlands, with gaps elsewhere geographically which we would like to fill. Seiont Manor is a very characterful property in a beautiful part of Wales. However, it is a 3 star property and this does not fit with our strategy as a 4 star hotel collection. The hotels will be sold as going concerns. We value the teams at both hotels for their contribution to Hand Picked and it is particularly important to us that jobs are protected, and that everyone who works at the hotels will have continuous employment when transferred to new owners. We are keen to add additional hotels to the Hand Picked Hotels collection and we continue to search for hotels in strategic locations across the UK.”
Set in 54 acres of grounds at Kings Mills, Castle Donington, in picturesque countryside, the Priest House Hotel, a converted Norman mill tower and 17th century cottage on the banks of the River Trent, boasts 42 guest bedrooms and suites, and extensive conference and banqueting facilities. The AA 4-Star/2 Rosette country house hotel has built a reputation as a premier hotel and wedding venue in Derbyshire, reflected in its industry accolades. The hotel is 5 miles from East Midlands Airport and 5.5 miles from the M1 motorway. Planning permission has been granted for an additional 41 bedrooms, a function suite and leisure pool.
Perched on the edge of Snowdonia National Park in the glorious Welsh countryside, Seiont Manor Hotel offers 28 guest bedrooms, conference and function facilities, and a 40-foot indoor heated swimming pool. The hotel, which has been awarded AA 3 Red Stars and 2 Rosettes, sits in 22 acres of grounds, surrounded by farmland, lakes and rivers – making it one of the most popular wedding venues in North Wales. Adjacent to the hotel is a disused Grade II Manor House with planning consent for 7 additional bedrooms and 5 meeting rooms.
Simon Stevens, Director at Christie + Co, is handling the sale. He says: “Considering the quality of each asset we are confident these outstanding hotel businesses will attract competitive interest, particularly as new owners will be able to seamlessly take over and lead the hotels into the future.”
Christie + Co is seeking offers of £3,250,000 for the freehold interest in The Priest House, and offers in excess of £2,000,000 for the freehold interest in Seiont Manor.
