Holiday Inn, Doncaster, sells
amidst competitive bidding
-- MCAP Global Finance (UK) LLP sells
102-bedroom Holiday in to the family behind
Westgate Healthcare --
The Holiday Inn, located in Warmsworth, Doncaster,
has been sold by Colliers International’s Hotels Agency
team on behalf of MCAP Global Finance (UK) LLP.
(MCAP Global Finance Ltd is a UK subsidiary of
New York based investment adviser Marathon Asset
Management, LP) for in excess of the guide price of
£6.5million, to Push and Sanjiv Patel the owners of
Westgate Healthcare, which is expanding into the
hotel market.
Located across a 6.8-acre site, three miles from
Doncaster city centre, the 102-bedroom property
has extensive public areas and outdoor patio/
garden space. The property is set out over three main
buildings including the Grade II* listed Warmsworth
Hall, which was built in 1702 by John Battie of
Warmsworth. The site of the current hall has evidence
of settlement dating back to the Roman era.
During World War I, the Hall firstly became occupied
by English Army Officers and later German prisoners
of war. It fell into disrepair and neglect until local
optician, Mr. Hebditch, brought the property in 1945.
With great expense, the building was restored to its
former glory with the Hebditch family residing
until 1960.
The hotel also boasts 14 meeting rooms; a gym; indoor
pool; Jacuzzi; spa and steam room. In addition, it
benefits from excellent accessibility, as it is close to
the motorway, Doncaster railway station is within a
10-minute drive and Robin Hood Airport is less than
10 miles from the location.
Leisure guests are also well catered for with Doncaster’s
famous racecourse, home to the popular St Ledger
Stakes each year; the substantial Dome Leisure Centre;
Doncaster Minster and Doncaster Museum and
Art Gallery within 10 minutes’ drive; and Yorkshire
Wildlife Park, Conisbrough Castle, Brodsworth Hall
and Cusworth Hall Museum all within easy reach.
The property is available with a new franchise
agreement to enable the hotel to continue benefitting
from the internationally renowned Holiday Inn brand.
The hotel originally entered the ‘IHG’ system under
the Holiday Inn brand in 2005.
Julian Troup, Head of Hotels Agency at Colliers
International said: “The Patel family of Westgate
Healthcare join an increasing list of a successful
healthcare operators who have chosen to diversify
into the hotel market. Operational synergies and
reduced regulatory matters see hotels offering an
attractive alternative. They will work alongside the
long established management team and workforce to
further develop the successful trading business.”
“Considerable interest was expressed for the freehold
sale of this hotel, which follows a pattern of increasing
demand for U.K. provincial hotels, particularly for
global branded stock. We are seeing an emerging
trend of increased demand for quality provincial hotel
opportunities from a diverse buyer set, including
international investors, who have been attracted by
weaker sterling and improving trading prospects;
private buyers attracted to the benefits of a lifestyle
opportunity to corporate investors attracted to
favourable returns and real estate alternatives. Since
the beginning of 2016, over 10 per cent of U.K. hotel
sales completed by Colliers were to international
buyers.
Dr Sanjiv Patel Director of Westgate Healthcare
commented: “We are very excited about taking on
this hotel business. Whilst we will always remain
committed to healthcare entering into the hospitality
market is an fantastic opportunity for us. The Holiday
Inn Doncaster is a hotel steeped in tradition and
represents a part of the community. We look forward
to working with IHG to develop the hotel and make
it a top destination for guests and a great place for our
staff to work”.