Independent coaching inns operator the Bulldog Hotel Group is set for major expansion, following investment from sector-specialist investment company the Commer Group.
The deal, for an undisclosed sum, sees Commer Group take a 20% stake in the business, with Commer Group Managing Director Edward Walsh joining Bulldog’s board as Finance Director. The investment creates a platform for an acquisition programme which will see the hotel group invest £20 million over the next five years in a doubling of the estate.
Ambitious acquisition and expansion programme
“We’ve built our property and leisure businesses by carefully choosing the right acquisitions and by backing the best people,” said Edward. “Kevin Charity at Bulldog Hotel Group, is one of the best independent operators of regional hotels in the country, so this investment is a natural development for us. We have an ambitious acquisition and expansion programme and are already in detailed discussions with funding providers as part of that process.”
The Bulldog Hotel Group has well-known hotels in Yorkshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire and County Durham and has built a strong reputation in the industry for transforming underperforming establishments into busy and profitable businesses.
Revitalising high quality coaching inns
Managing Director Kevin Charity comments:
“We’re delighted Edward is joining the Bulldog board to lead our investment programme. His extensive financial experience as an investment banker and business knowledge and contacts through the Commer Group, will help us realise our ambitious growth plans.
“Our successful business model is based on selecting high quality coaching inns and revitalising their offer across food, drink and accommodation. While many individual hotels can only afford to focus on just one area, we have the resources to ensure excellence across all three income streams and give guests and customers an all-round better experience. This is proving attractive to couples and families for holiday breaks, but also to the corporate market for meetings and conferences.
Growing estate from 7 to 15 by 2020
“The regional hotel market, and particularly the coaching inn sector, remains highly fragmented and with this investment we have never been better placed to take advantage of the acquisition opportunities that we continue to see and allows us to grow the estate from seven to fifteen by 2020.”
The Bulldog Hotel Group specialises in individually styled coaching inns, each with an all-day offering and is currently enjoying record sales across each of its three core income streams. Having acquired its first hotel site in 2004 the Group now has a turnover in excess of £10 million and employs over 320 people across seven locations.
The £40 million Commer Group specialises in the hotel, licensed and leisure sectors and was established by Edward Walsh’s late father Jim Walsh in 1989.
Pictured: Commer Group MD Edward Walsh along with Kevin Charity MD of Bulldog Hotel Group