Amberley Castle goes to Von Essen for £12m

Luxury hotel group Von Essen has just completed a deal for its latest acquisition, Amberley Castle, near Arundel in West Sussex, Caterer can reveal.

The country castle hotel, which was bought in a private transaction for about £12m from Joy and Martin Cummings, will become part of the Von Essen private collection. It takes the group's portfolio to 25 properties, including Cliveden in Berkshire and the Royal Crescent in Bath.

Amberley Castle is a 14th-century fortress encasing an old manor house offering 19 luxurious bedrooms and suites with Jacuzzi bathrooms. Facilities include two restaurants, lounge areas, tennis court, croquet lawn, gardens and lakes, as well as an 18-hole putting course and a thatched roof tree house complete with rope bridge.

Von Essen chairman Andrew Davis said: "Amberley Castle is a magnificent historical treasure that offers a truly unique experience expanding the collection to now cover the South Downs of this important part of the UK. Von Essen prides itself on the quality of its properties and Amberley Castle is an exceptional addition."

Earlier this year, Von Essen announced plans to create a new riverside hotel in south London on the site of Battersea Heliport, which the company bought for £50m. The 70-bedroom boutique-style property will feature a 200-seater rooftop restaurant called Reach, with 360-degree views over London.

Von Essen to open hotel on Battersea Heliport site >>

By Kerstin Kühn

E-mail your comments to Kerstin Kühn here.