Hand Picked Hotels Buys Four Cotswolds Sites
Hand Picked Hotels expands into the Cotswolds with the freehold acquisition of four country house estates totalling 118 keys.
The short answer
Hand Picked Hotels has secured its entrance into the Cotswolds by acquiring four freehold country properties from Andrew Brownsword Hotels. The off-market transaction adds 118 guest rooms across four individual heritage venues.
“The Cotswolds has long been one of Britain’s most admired destinations and establishing a presence in the region has been an ambition of ours for some time.”
The short version
- Hand Picked Hotels enters the Cotswolds regional market via the purchase of four freehold country properties.
- 118 bedrooms are added to the Hand Picked Hotels portfolio from Andrew Brownsword Hotels.
- Deloitte, Michels & Taylor, Withers, Savills, and Burgess Salmon provided professional transaction advice.
Hand Picked Hotels has entered the Cotswolds luxury hotel market by acquiring four freehold country house properties totalling 118 bedrooms from Andrew Brownsword Hotels for an undisclosed sum [1], [2]. The transaction brings Buckland Manor, The Slaughters Country Inn, The Slaughters Manor House, and Old Swan & Minster Mill into the brand's portfolio while preserving their existing trading identities [1], [2].
What assets did Hand Picked Hotels acquire in the deal?
The deal encompasses the freehold interests in four established country properties across the Cotswolds, contributing 118 operational rooms to Hand Picked Hotels [1], [2]. The individual sites comprise Buckland Manor, The Slaughters Country Inn, The Slaughters Manor House, and Old Swan & Minster Mill (also referred to as The Old Swan and Minster Mill) [1], [2]. As Boutique Hotel News reported, this purchase establishes the brand's first operational footprint in the Cotswolds region [1].
| Property Name | Tenure | Prior Owner | New Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buckland Manor | Freehold | Andrew Brownsword Hotels | Hand Picked Hotels |
| The Slaughters Country Inn | Freehold | Andrew Brownsword Hotels | Hand Picked Hotels |
| The Slaughters Manor House | Freehold | Andrew Brownsword Hotels | Hand Picked Hotels |
| Old Swan & Minster Mill | Freehold | Andrew Brownsword Hotels | Hand Picked Hotels |
Why did Hand Picked Hotels target the Cotswolds market?
Regional expansion into prime leisure destinations served as the primary growth incentive, fulfilling an established expansion goal for the collection [1], [2]. Julia Hands, chair of Hand Picked Hotels, noted that establishing a presence in the Cotswolds has been an ambition for the company for some time, describing the area as one of Britain's most admired destinations [1], [2]. According to Hotel Owner, the portfolio addition is intended to introduce Hand Picked Hotels to fresh domestic and international visitor bases [2]. This geographic reach builds upon existing capital spending across the company's regional properties and follows commercial marketing alliances established with Chapel Down, Bollinger, Blenheim Palace, and the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu [2].
How will operations transition post-completion?
All four venues will retain their existing operating names following transaction completion, avoiding full property reflagging [1], [2]. Management plans an immediate operational integration focused on business continuity for teams, guests, suppliers, and regional partners [2]. Andrew Brownsword Hotels chief executive John Badley stated that leadership from both hotel groups will work collaboratively to secure an uninterrupted handover across hotel teams and commercial partners [1], [2].
Which professional advisers executed the transaction?
Both hotel groups retained corporate, commercial, and legal advisory teams to structure the transaction [1]. Deloitte, management specialist Michels & Taylor, and legal firm Withers provided professional counsel to buyer Hand Picked Hotels [1]. Real estate advisory firm Savills and legal practice Burgess Salmon represented vendor Andrew Brownsword Hotels throughout the negotiations [1].
Reported by
This article was written from the following reporting. Follow the links for the original coverage.
- [1]Hand Picked Hotels Buys Four Cotswolds Sites— Boutique Hotel News
- [2]Hand Picked Hotels Buys Four Cotswolds Properties— hotelowner.co.uk
Frequently asked
+Which hotels are included in the Hand Picked Hotels transaction?
The acquisition includes four freehold country properties: Buckland Manor, The Slaughters Country Inn, The Slaughters Manor House, and Old Swan & Minster Mill.
+How many total guest bedrooms are being transferred?
The four properties contribute a combined total of 118 guest bedrooms to the Hand Picked Hotels regional portfolio.
+Will the four Cotswolds hotels change their trading names?
No, all four properties will continue to trade under their established trading names following the completion of the transaction.
+What was the purchase price paid for the four hotels?
The financial consideration for the transaction was not disclosed by either Hand Picked Hotels or Andrew Brownsword Hotels.
+Who advised the buyer and seller on the deal?
Hand Picked Hotels was advised by Deloitte, Michels & Taylor, and Withers. Andrew Brownsword Hotels was represented by Savills and Burgess Salmon.
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