Hotel sales expected ahead of expansion

Several hotels and a conference venue are expected to be put up for sale in the coming months as their owner, the De Vere Group, is looking to generate funds for its expansion.

Reports in the Times stated that the Grand Harbour hotel in Southampton, the Royal Bath in Bournemouth, the Village Daresbury Park in Warrington, the Barony Castle near Edinburgh and the University Arms in Cambridge will soon be on the market.

Sales from these properties are expected to generate in the region of £65 million, which is earmarked for use in the development of new-build hotels for De Vere's Village Hotels division.

One of the hotels for sale, the University Arms in Cambridge, can trace its history back to 1834, when it had just 15 bedrooms. Now the establishment has 119 bedrooms. Jessica Walker, who is on the hotel's staff, told the Cambridge News that the staff are hoping for a full refurbishment under new management.

She added: “We were told that the hotel was going to be sold to focus more on the golf and leisure hotels. Obviously this hotel’s priority is its accommodation and it does not have those kind of facilities.”