Balmer Lawn hotel put up for sale for £12.5m

The owners of Balmer Lawn hotel in Brockenhurst in the New Forest have put the property on the market for the first time in 25 years.

Chris and Alison Wilson are retiring from the industry and seeking a new owner to take the business forward.

Knight Frank is inviting offers in the region of £12.5m for the freehold of the hotel.

The Wilsons bought Balmer Lawn in 1997 when it was the three-star Hilton Ladbroke and have since invested heavily in the property, which now holds four-AA-silver stars and features a two-AA-rosette restaurant.

The hotel also includes 54 ensuite bedrooms, a wedding and conference venue, leisure club, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, spa, wedding pavilion, landscaped gardens, and staff accommodation.

Planning permission was secured in 2020 for an additional 38 bedrooms, to expand the capacity of its function rooms to 250 people, enlarge the spa facilities and construct a further six staff bedrooms.

The Wilsons said: “After 25 years ownership, it is now our time to retire from the industry and hand over the reins to a new owner who can continue to take the business forward and capitalise on the investments we have made.

“The business is in great shape, with strong performance in all sectors including leisure, corporate and weddings. The new Lodge Kitchen and Bar to the front of the hotel has delivered an entirely new revenue stream and an additional food and beverage offering.

“With the planning permission in place the hotel is ready for a new owner to take this iconic hotel to the next level, with over 90 bedrooms, much larger function space and an enhanced spa offering the hotel will continue to go from strength to strength."

Balmer Lawn was built as a private hunting lodge and residence in the mid-1800s. It was used as a field hospital during the First World War and an army staff college in the Second World War.

Matthew Smith, partner in Knight Frank’s hotel agency team, said: “UK regional hotels have witnessed substantial investment interest over the first few months of 2022, attracting over £800 m We expect investment levels to remain strong throughout the year as capital continues to be deployed into assets in prime locations.”