Divine Hotels has bought its third property in the form of the Steventon House country hotel on the edge of the Oxfordshire village of Abingdon.
The main part of property, which became a hotel in 1981, was built in 1870 and was once owned by sewing machine magnate Sir Mortimer Singer. It is rumoured to have housed his mistress, dancer Isadora Duncan.
It enjoys easy access to the motorway network via the M4 and M40 and draws much of its business from several large business parks. Trade comes predominantly from commercial visitors during the week and from weddings and parties at the weekends.
Steventon House is set in 1.75 acres of grounds that include an outdoor swimming pool.
It offers 23 en-suite bedrooms to sleep 42, a bar, two lounges, and an 80-seat restaurant that doubles as a function room.
There is also an owners’ suite made up of a large sitting room with an open staircase to an en-suite bedroom and a door to a conservatory to the side of the building.
Divine Hotels intends to transform the building into a smart boutique hotel and plans to create a new, upmarket restaurant, a conference and function suite, and to eventually add more bedrooms.
The Cirencester office of Colliers Robert Barry sold the freehold off an asking price in excess of £1.85m.
By Angela Frewin