Bidding from national and international hotel groups and investors was exceptionally competitive for Yorkshire’s only 5-Star hotel — the award-winning Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa in York whose freehold has been sold to Splendid Hospitality Group who will take ownership of the hotel from the end of August.
Splendid, which controls a portfolio of 13 hotels with nearly 1,300 bedrooms located in London and across the UK, is an existing investor in the York hospitality market. The company owns the Express by Holiday Inn near Monks Cross and is currently on site developing a boutique hotel in Walmgate, which will operate under IHG’s ‘Indigo’ brand.
The Grade II Listed Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa was constructed in 1906 as the head quarters for North Eastern Railways and re-developed, following a £30 million investment, as a luxury hotel by Cedar Court Group, opening its doors for business in 2010.
The hotel comprises 107 elegant guest rooms, including 13 suites, Hudson’s and HQ restaurants, The Grand Bar and Whisky Room, as well as dedicated conference and banqueting facilities, including the impressive Grand Boardroom.
The Ruinart Terrace provides a superb external area accommodating up to 200 guests for receptions/cocktail events, while guests seeking that added luxury are catered for by the on-site Spa with swimming pool, spa whirlpool, Nordic dry sauna, aromatic steam room, relaxation lounge and treatment rooms.
Kevin Henry, Group Managing Director of Cedar Court Hotels, says: “The sale of our York hotel represents a good result for Cedar Court Hotels and is part of our wider group strategy to concentrate resource and investment into our core estate of 4-Star hotels. We are delighted to have worked with the Boghani family who already operate a number of upscale hotels and we believe their experience will enable the hotel to continue to thrive and develop even further.”
Shiraz Boghani, Chairman of Splendid Hospitality Group, adds: “The York hospitality market is an exceptionally robust one and quite simply, assets of this quality do not come along every day. More importantly, York is a top UK destination people want to visit both for business and for pleasure and we look forward to working with the hotel’s management team to deliver a best in class service for our guests.”
The sale price was undisclosed.