Cotswold Inns & Hotels up to eight with Gloucestershire hotel acquisition
In a deal brokered by specialist property adviser Christie & Co, Bristol businessman Geoff Dunford has sold the property in order to focus on his hotel and conference centre in the south west.
The Cotswolds hotel features a bar, restaurant and conference facilities as well as its own chapel which is used for weddings and events. The property has been sold with planning permission to create an additional five bedrooms and a 100-cover restaurant.
Cotswold Inns & Hotels
Michael Horton, chairman of Cotswold Inns & Hotels, said: "We have admired Tetbury and The Close for many years and are thrilled to welcome The Close into our fold — Cotswold Inns & Hotels.
"We are passionate about all of our properties and are really looking forward to working with the team at The Close."
Cotswold Inns & Hotels was founded in 1997 by Michael and Pamela Horton.
The company now owns eight hotels although this is the first acquisition for the group since 2008 when The Hare and Hounds Hotel, also in Tetbury, joined a portfolio which includes The Broadway Hotel in Broadway and The Bay Tree in Burford.
Earlier this year, the family-run firm was named as the Small Hotel Group of the Year 2012-13 by the AA.
The Close Hotel
The sale of the hotel was instigated after Geoff Dunford, the former chairman of Bristol Rovers Football Club, decided to concentrate on the Beeches Hotel and Conference Centre in Bristol which is owned and operated by the businessman and his son.
“We have enjoyed our ownership of The Close Hotel over the last five years and we have made many friends in the Tetbury area," he said. "We would like to thank our staff and customers for their support and dedication.
"However, the focus of our group has changed and we are concentrating more on conferencing and training in Bath and Bristol, so The Close unfortunately does not fit in with our current business profile.
"We are sure the hotel will prosper under new ownership and will continue to be a credit to hospitality in Tetbury."
Jonathan Hill, Director of Christie & Co, said: “The Close Hotel is a stunning facility, whose location and presentation make it an ideal addition to the outstanding Cotswold Inns & Hotels portfolio."
