Skibo Castle set for sale to members
Skibo Castle, the Highland estate turned into an exclusive club by Peter de Savary, looks likely to be sold to its members for about £27m. Shareholders in the estate, in Dornoch, Sutherland, have until the end of the month to accept the bid from the club members.
The majority holder is a US pension fund, Westbrook Global Partners, which is keen to realise its investment after eight years of the club being in business.
Individual members, of which there are about 500, pay £3,000 plus VAT per year, plus a daily residential rate of £350 plus VAT for double occupancy.
Private buyer takes over Abbots Mews
Christie & Co has sold the 50-bedroom Abbots Mews hotel in Bootham,York, to an unnamed private buyer for more than the £1.5m asking price. Vendors the Dearnley family had converted the former Victorian coachman's cottage, coach-house and stables into a hotel in 1976.
Apex picks Dundee for fourth hotel
Apex Hotels, which owns three hotels in Edinburgh, is to open a fourth property in Dundee this March. The £13m-plus new-build Apex City Quay Hotel and Spa is in the new City Quayside development. Facilities include 153 bedrooms, two restaurants, a bar and the holistic Yu spa (from the Japanese for hot water).
Paradise reborn for Eclipse in Bristol
Eclipse Hotels is building a three-storey 82-bedroom hotel close to Bristol Airport on the site of the former Paradise Motel, which was destroyed by fire 15 years ago. The hotel, which will be operated by Holiday Inn, is expected to open in 2004.
The airport itself plans to build a 140-bedroom hotel attached to the terminal building and is inviting expressions of interest from operators.
South African buys Highclere hotel
South African hotelier Sandie Curtis has bought her first UK property with the purchase of Highclere hotel in Sunninghill village, near Ascot, Berkshire.
She paid slightly below the £1.2m sought by agent Christie & Co for the 11-bedroom Edwardian property.
Previous owners John and Jane Cockle plan to retire.
De Vere invests in Maidstone
The De Vere hotel group is investing £17m in a hotel and leisure club on the outskirts of Maidstone in Kent.
The hotel, which is being developed on a five-acre greenfield site, is to have 122 bedrooms, restaurants, a pub, conference and banqueting facilities and a leisure club.
The Village Hotel and Leisure Club Maidstone is due to open in early 2004. There are currently 14 Village Hotel and Leisure Clubs across England and Wales.