Birch Cheshunt hotel and estate put on the market after falling into administration

The Hertfordshire estate which includes the Birch Cheshunt hotel has been put on the market, two weeks after it collapsed into administration.

Savills has been appointed to market Theobalds Park Estate, which includes 55 acres of land and the Grade II-listed hotel, with no definitive guide price.

Birch Cheshunt opened on the estate in 2020 and featured two restaurants overseen by chef Robin Gill, as well as a farm, three bars, 20 meeting and events rooms, a co-working space, and gym.

It closed along with its sister hotel, Birch Selsdon in south Croydon, last month, with administrators blaming the collapse on “cash constraints”.

Birch Cheshunt took over the site once occupied by the De Vere Theobalds Estate hotel and was originally overseen by Chris Penn, former managing director of the Ace Hotel London, and entrepreneur Chris King, both of whom left the business last year.

It was a joint venture between Penn and King's management company, Performance Hotels, and real estate investment company Aprirose, which bought the property in 2018 and invested £8.5m into the site.

Harriet Fuller, associate director of hotel capital markets at Savills, said: “Theobalds Park Estate provides investors with the unique opportunity to acquire a substantial, freehold property with a diverse range of facilities and income generating opportunities.

“It has been recently refurbished to seamlessly combine modern design aesthetics with the amenities of a lifestyle hotel and private members club.

“The property is well positioned in Cheshunt so the buyer can expect to benefit from the footfall of local attractions and venues. We expect this to be a highly sought after asset with strong demand from a wide range of buyers.”

Administrators for Birch Selsdon said they would “explore various options” for the site, which could provide “a good opportunity for potential purchasers”.