Hilwood Hotels and Resorts considering Dakota Nottingham buy

Luxury hotel group Hilwood Resorts and Hotels (HRH) is considering the purchase of the Dakota hotel in Nottingham, Caterersearch has learnt.

The group, which owns and operates Bovey Castle in Dartmoor National Park, Bailbrook House in Bath and The Grand in Jersey, is actively looking for new property and managing director Gregor Ritchie said the financial documents relating to the sale of the Dakota hotel in Nottingham had “come across his desk a few months ago”.

Commenting on whether or not it was part of his plans, he told Caterersearch: “I’m actively looking for properties and chewing the fat on it - these are not times for things to be moving fast, so we’re sitting on our hands a bit.

It’s been on the market for a few months now and nobody’s rushing in to get it. Two years ago a property of that calibre would have been snapped up.”

Hilwood is currently building a fourth luxury hotel in Weybridge, Surrey at the historical Brooklands race site, next to Mercedes Benz World.

The 120-bedroom hotel is set to open in 18 months in Feb 2010 and has yet to be given a name. The food and beverage operation will be headed up by two Michelin-starred chef Martin Blunos.

Hilwood, which launched in 2006, is run by Ritchie and Arvinder Walia, who were previously finance and operations director at Hand Picked Hotels, in a joint venture with property investor Delancey.

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By Gemma Sharkey

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