A historic country house hotel close to Chester has been acquired by a new investor following a competitive marketing process.
Northop Hall Country House Hotel (previously known as The Chequers), built in 1872, located in the small village of Northop Hall is surrounded by nine acres of private woodland and secluded gardens, with the region’s best walking paths and natural wildlife on the doorstep.
The Hotels Agency and Advisory & Restructuring teams at Colliers advised the Joint Liquidators at Quantuma Advisory Limited on the marketing and sale of the hotel, achieving a price of £850,000.
The hotel was previously recognised for having an excellent culinary reputation and a popular venue of choice for events, as it includes 37-bedrooms, three meeting rooms, restaurant and bar for 90 covers, function and banqueting suite for 150 covers, plus an additional three-bedroom owners’ cottage and car parking for 70 vehicles.
Northop Hall ceased operations just prior to the COVID pandemic, now new owner Na’ím Anís Paymán, founder of Paymán Investments, has plans to operate the hotel as a wedding and events venue following a refurbishment, ahead of re-opening later this year.
Mr Paymán said: “We are extremely proud to have acquired Northop Hall Country House Hotel. As an impact investment company, we seek to acquire assets that besides making for a successful business, can also be revitalised into becoming a hub for the local community. We very much feel that this acquisition will not only make for a very successful hotel, corporate events and wedding venue given its fantastic location in North Wales and proximity to both Liverpool and Manchester, but it also has the potential to bring employment and funds to the local area as well as attract residents as a base for various community initiatives.
“We are keen to work with the local community to make this place a home away from home for everyone next door or in the neighbouring shires. We are open to ideas, businesses and locals interested to make this gem the ‘go to’ place for the best and most meaningful moments in our personal or professional lives.
“The hotel and conference centre will trade under our group brand, Paymán Club. Having got married myself just a fortnight ago, my wife, Sara, and I have decided to set up a sister brand, Paymán Weddings, which will advertise a number of our wedding venues across the UK with Northop Hall Country House Hotel being one of the many beautiful venues in our collection.”
Colliers has sold over 100 hotels nationally since the beginning of 2021, completing a significant number of sales in North Wales including Penmaenuchaf Hall Dolgellau, Swallow Falls Hotel and Tyn y Fron both in Betws y Coed. The region continues to be a hotspot for visitors to access the North Wales coastline and Snowdonia National Park.
Neil Thomson, associate director for Colliers’ Hotel Agency comments: “Northop Hall Country House Hotel is a magnificent property, immersed in history and undoubtedly one of North Wales’ premier venues. Not only is the hotel located in a leading tourist area, but the region is also a sought-after investment destination.
“For a while now there has been a great deal of confidence within the hospitality industry in North Wales, and the number of transactions we have completed so far this year shows this. We predict the activity to continue with the help of the Welsh Government’s recent campaign, which has been placed to attract international visitors and high spending overseas tourists to the area.”
Nick Hammond, Head of Advisory & Restructuring at Colliers, added: “We are pleased to have supported Quantuma Advisory Limited in this matter and look forward to seeing new life breathed into this impressive venue. The UK hospitality sector is a vital part of our cultural fabric and we are acutely aware of the challenges the industry faces amid rising costs and supply chain constraints, so we remain committed to providing practical, market-facing advice to our clients to help navigate the months ahead.”
