UK: Husband and wife Andy Miles and Serena von der Heyde have purchased the Rothay Garth Hotel in Ambleside for £1.175 million.
Miles, the owner of Your Place, will take over the property from Simon Clark who has owned the hotel since 2019. Clark refurbished the site and will now retire from the industry.
The hotel currently trades as a 15-room bed and breakfast with owners’ accommodation, tennis courts, bowling green, and gardens. It provides views over Lake Windermere and the Lake District National Park.
Von der Heyde owns Georgian House Hotel (London) and Victorian House Hotel (Grasmere), and will work alongside Miles to reposition Rothay Garth hotel.
Miles said: “I am very much looking forward to this new venture working with Serena and our team, building on the quality and reputation they have established. My family live locally so the area holds a special place in my heart. I am excited to open the doors to customers old and new, and I look forward to providing memorable experiences in this great central location. We have exciting refurbishment plans for the future and look forward to sharing more details on this as we go into the new year.”
Real estate firm Colliers oversaw the transaction. Neil Thomson, associate director in the hotels agency team, said: “Rothay Garth Hotel is a highly acclaimed hotel in a high footfall area, catering for a mix of domestic and international clientele. The extended conservatory has ample capacity for residents and passing trade.
“The Lake District National Park continues to be an incredibly strong and reliable market to invest in with ever-growing confidence, particularly within the hospitality trade. So far, Colliers has sold 43 hotels in the region since the beginning of 2021. We predict the activity to continue and expect to see the market for these types of lifestyle businesses, attracting national and international buyers.”
