Christian Guild Hotels to sell two of remaining three properties

Following a review of the business during tough trading conditions, Methodist Guild Holidays, which trades as Christian Guild Hotels, has decided to close and sell two of its remaining three hotels.

The business said the Grade II-listed, 72-bedroom Sidholme hotel (pictured) in Sidmouth, Devon, and Grade II-listed, 43-bedroom Willersley Castle hotel in Cromford, Derbyshire, will not reopen. There will be 60 redundancies across the properties: 27 at Sidholme and 33 at Willersley.

A consultation period has been undertaken with the hotel employees and all those affected by the closure have been informed of the decision.

The 39-bedroom Treloyhan Manor hotel in St Ives, Cornwall, also owned by Methodist Guild Holidays, is unaffected by the closures and has reopened, with Hothorpe Venues – a conference and wedding business which is part of the same group – opening in August.

Managing director of Methodist Guild Holidays, Nicola Firth, said: “The board and management of Methodist Guild Holidays are saddened that the future of the hotels could not be rescued. We are thankful to our loyal employees and customers during the years we have owned and managed Sidholme hotel.”

James Greenslade, associate director in the hotels team at Savills Exeter, which is marketing Sidholme hotel for offers of more than £1.9m, said: “This is an impressive building that is full of history and uniquely positioned near to the town and seafront, surrounded in an idyllic setting. The popular seaside town of Sidmouth regularly attracts tourists looking for easy access to the coastline and picturesque villages in East Devon.”

Christian Guild Hotels sold two of its properties, the 61-bedroom Abbot Hall hotel in Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, and the 23-bedroom Lindors Country House hotel in Lydney, Gloucestershire, to the Carlauren Group in 2018 off a guide price in excess of £2.9m.

However, the Carlauren Group fell into administration last year and the properties are now in the hands of administrators, under new names Lambert Manor and Dean Valley Manor.