Stoke Place sold to Cairn Hotel Group

The four-AA-star, 39-bedroom Stoke Place hotel in Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, has been sold out of administration to the Cairn Hotel Group for an undisclosed sum.

Set within 26 acres of gardens designed by 18th century landscape architect Capability Brown, the property was previously part of a five-strong portfolio of hotels owned by the Dhillon Group.

Four hotels within the group, owned by Sarina and Novtej Dhillon, were placed into administration in October 2012, at a time when the downturn in the economy was having an adverse effect on trading. The properties included the 41-bedroom Crown inn in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, the location of a romantic assignation between characters played by Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell in the film Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Administrators from PWC were appointed to Stoke Place on 19 November 2015 and a sale was swiftly secured by the Newcastle-based Cairn Hotel Group, which owns and operates 25 hotels across the UK, including the nearby Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross.

Stoke Place, which is located within a Grade II-listed manor house, two cottages and a separate terrace of bedrooms, features the three-AA-rosette Seasons restaurant.

Gary Witham, hotels director at Savills, which marketed the hotel, said: "This country house hotel was once a renowned wedding and events venue and is well suited to both leisure and corporate guests. Cairn Hotel Group has the capability and expertise to put Stoke Place back on the map."

The Cairn Hotel Group is a privately owned company that has spent £40m over the past five years acquiring assets. Its current portfolio of hotels includes properties operating under international brands including Best Western, Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Mercure and Ramada, as well as independent entities.

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