Final hotel sold out of Christian Guild administration portfolio

The fourth and final hotel from the in-administration Christian Guild Hotels portfolio, Willersley Castle in Matlock, Derbyshire, has been sold to outdoor pursuits company Manor Adventure.

The Grade II-listed former mansion house has been in operation as a hotel since the Second World War.

Under its new ownership, it will become an outdoor pursuit centre offering activities such as archery, obstacle courses, fencing and high ropes along with accommodation.

Administrators were appointed to Christian Guild Hotels last December after the company suffered sustained cashflow difficulties due to the pandemic.

The Willersley Castle deal marks the final sale for the portfolio of hotels previously operated by Methodist Guild Holidays, trading as Christian Guild Hotels.

Sidholme hotel near Exeter was sold to Arsh Holdings earlier this year and the new owner plans to refurbish the Grade II-listed hotel.

The business and assets of Hothorpe Hall near Theddingworth, Leicestershire, were sold for £3.55m to the India-based KCT Group with all 36 jobs saved.

Treloyhan Manor in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, was sold to investment company Northhold Group for more than £3m.

Savills marketed Willersley Manor on behalf of the administrators, Yasmin Bhikha and John Lowe of FRP Advisory.

Tom Cunningham, hotels director at Savills, said: “Opportunities to acquire historic landmarks such as this are rare, and Willersley Castle will make a fantastic location as a new centre for Manor Adventure. We look forward to seeing the property take on a new chapter and are pleased to have completed on the final sale across this portfolio of four impressive properties throughout the UK.”