Prehistoric Kents Cavern sold to hotel and leisure company

The Tudor Hotel Collection has purchased prehistoric caves in Torquay for an undisclosed sum between £2m and £2.5m.

The hotel and leisure company also operates the Bodmin Jail visitor attraction and hotel in Cornwall, which was built in 1779 and was the site of 55 executions, the last one in 1909.

Kents Cavern was formed over two and half million years ago and has been open to the public since the 19th century. It is part of the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark and is also home to a shop, restaurant and visitor centre.

The sale also included the woodland trail, car park, surrounding land and a recently refurbished three-bedroom holiday let.

Rob Cox, chief executive of Tudor Hotels, said: “Kents Cavern is a wonderful and unique attraction and we are very excited to continue the amazing work of [current owners] Nick and Sheena Powe and their family. It’s wonderful to be actively engaged in bringing the rich history of England to people from all over the world.”

“Adding Kents Cavern to our collection alongside the Bodmin Jail Museum, the Bodmin Jail hotel and the Redcliffe hotel is a proud moment for us and underpins our commitment to collating the finest collection of historic hotels and visitor attractions.”

"Nick and Sheena have expressed their gratitude to their loyal customers and staff for their support over the years. They are proud of the legacy their family has created and believe that the new owner will be able to continue to provide visitors with a unique and memorable experience and take the business to new heights."

Nick added: “The family are delighted to have found an experienced operator to continue caring for the caves, continuing my family’s legacy established over the last 120 years. The new owners will be bringing the Stone Age heritage alive, offering a better visitor experience, exactly what Kents Cavern needs and what I couldn’t do."

The freehold for Kents Cavern was marketed by Bettesworths Chartered Surveyors. The sale was conducted by Wollens on behalf of the seller and Temple Bright for the purchaser.