St Austell Brewery acquires the Wellington Hotel in Boscastle

The Wellington Hotel is a historic coaching inn, dating back to the 16^th century. Located in the fishing village of Boscastle, with views overlooking the harbour, the site has 14 bedrooms, three aparthotel suites, a pub, and a restaurant.

The acquisition is the first in over two years for St Austell Brewery, which recently reported a strong recovery and return to profitability in 2021, despite all its sites being closed for the first four months of the year due to lockdown. The company now owns 175 pubs, inns and hotels across the West Country including 39 managed sites, and a portfolio of tenanted and leased properties.

Kevin Georgel, Chief Executive, St Austell Brewery said: “The Wellington is a historic hotel and one of the oldest coaching inns in Cornwall. Located right on the coast, it’s a family-friendly destination with great views, a pub, a restaurant, and overnight accommodation, making it popular with both locals and visitors. It fits perfectly with our current managed estate and the variety of guest experiences we always look to offer.

“This is our first acquisition in over two years, so it’s an exciting time for the business and a milestone moment in the strong recovery we’ve continued to make since the pandemic. It also supports our plans to strengthen and grow our managed estate, across Cornwall and the wider South West, in the months and years ahead.”

Jonathan Scott, who has owned the Wellington Hotel for over 10 years, said: “St Austell Brewery is an independent local business with family values and great pubs and hotels, making it the most suitable guardian to take the Wellington into its next chapter. It’s really positive news for the future of the site, the team, and the Boscastle community.”

Stephen Champion, Director in Christie & Co’s South West Hotels Team who acted for St Austell Brewery said: “The Wellington Hotel is a superb and extremely well know business in one of Cornwall’s prime tourist villages, making it an obvious target for any expanding hospitality group. Having previously acted for the sellers when Jon Scott first purchased the hotel back in 2010, Christie & Co were uniquely positioned to broker the deal between its owner and St Austell Brewery. We are delighted to have acted for St Austell in their first acquisition in over two years and look forward to contributing towards the further growth of the estate in the future. Buyer confidence in hospitality business remains high with prime tourist spots featuring high on many buyers wish lists.”

Other iconic sites to have joined St Austell Brewery’s managed estate in recent years include the Royal Castle Hotel in Dartmouth and the Rock Point Inn in Lyme Regis.

For further information on this press release, contact:                                                                                       

Bronte Hughes, Corporate Communications Executive

P: 020 7227 0794 or E: bronte.hughes@christie.com

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