Starboard Hotels takes over Cliffden hotel in Teignmouth
Starboard Hotels has taken over the 47-room Cliffden hotel in Teignmouth, Devon, from the charity Guide Dogs for an undisclosed sum.
The historic property specialises in holidays for people with sight loss. It was put on the market last year by GVA and Colliers International under the Vision Hotels brand with an asking price of £1.35m.
The Cliffden Hotel is the last remaining hotel in Teignmouth. It is set in seven acres of gardens and has been a popular holiday and weekend break destination for "thousands of visually impaired people, guide dog owners and tourists".
Starboard Hotels operates a portfolio of 19 properties under a variety of brands, such as Holiday Inn Express, Best Western, Days Inn and Ibis, as well as its own-brand Windermere Manor. The latter was also purchased from Guide Dogs late last year.
Starboard Hotels managing director Paul Callingham said: "We are deeply passionate about providing the very best facilities and levels of service for all our guests. With our experience at the Windermere Manor Hotel we are confident of bringing our expertise and extensive knowledge of the hospitality industry to the Cliffden, creating a very special holiday destination for everyone to enjoy."
Working in tandem with the hotel team, led by general manager Karen Stacey and local volunteers who help out with guests requiring assistance, often with their guide dogs, Starboard Hotels will be continuing to provide facilities that make Cliffden "a warm and welcoming destination for all".
Callingham added: "This is an important investment being made in Teignmouth to enhance its charm as a seaside destination. The trend for the staycation is increasing here in the UK and this has created a great platform for a renaissance in our seaside towns. We are pleased to be investing in this historic hotel and intend to sympathetically restore the property and the great facilities that already exist for people with sight loss and their families, alongside offering superb facilities for everyone."
It has been a busy start to 2018 for Starboard, which acquired four Ibis Styles hotels in Barnsley, Birmingham, Crewe and Haydock earlier this year.
Colliers International and GVA acted on behalf of Guide Dogs.
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