Bourne Leisure buys the Runnymede

Holiday park operator Bourne Leisure has bought the Runnymede on Thames hotel in Egham, Surrey, from Ralph Trustees for an undisclosed sum.

The Runnymede will join the group’s Warner Leisure Hotels portfolio, which also includes the recently refurbished Studley Castle, which opened in 2019, and Heythrop Park, which will reopen in summer 2022 after a full refurbishment. The 180-bedroom hotel Runnymede will become the 16th property for Warner. Bourne Leisure was bought by Blackstone last year and also owns Haven Holidays and Butlin's.

Simon Thompson, managing director of Warner Leisure Hotels, said: “We are proud to announce another fantastic acquisition for Warner, and are delighted to be adding the Runnymede to our portfolio. It is a wonderful hotel with a fabulous team in a great location, and this marks an important milestone in our journey as we continue to look for new locations across the UK, expanding our presence to meet the needs of our guests.

“The hotel will be our first in the Greater London area and our guests seeking the perfect place to unwind will benefit from its unique riverside location, well suited for both relaxation and exploring nearby attractions.”

The Runnymede will continue to operate as a standalone hotel prior to its relaunch under the Warner brand.

Ralph Trustees’ portfolio also includes the Grove hotel in Chandler's Cross, Hertfordshire, and the Athenaeum in London. The company had operated the Runnymede for 35 years.