Foresters Hall on the Isle of Wight on the market for £2.3m

Foresters Hall on the Isle of Wight has been put up for sale off a guide price of £2.3m after two years of trading as the owners seek a “professional operator to continue the journey”.

Husband-and-wife duo Sara Curran and Peter Sussman first launched the hotel as North House in May 2022 with chef patron Robert Thompson.

The property was rebranded into Foresters Hall in September 2022 to avoid confusion with the English Heritage site Northwood House and partnered with Smoking Lobster Group until October 2023.

Jake Storey, the former senior sous chef of Lympstone Manor in Devon, was the most recent head chef.

Parts of the hotel was constructed in 1865 as the meeting place for the Cowes arm of the Ancient Order of Foresters, from which the hotel takes its name.

The 14-bedroom hotel, which includes a library, restaurant, bar, terrace, garden and outdoor saltwater pool, is the only hotel on the Isle of Wight to be a member of Mr & Mrs Smith and Table Plus.

It was also included in the February 2024 selection of the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland and holds five stars and two rosettes from the AA.

Curran said: “I moved to the Isle of Wight when I was pregnant with my daughter Alice in 2007 and she is now in Sixth Form, so between Alice’s impending departure off the island in 2025 and Peter and my desire to go elsewhere in the world and do some long-planned writing alongside our various film and TV initiatives, we decided 2025 is a good time to begin our next chapter.

“We couldn’t be more proud of what’s been created at Foresters Hall and want to especially thank our terrific concierge and housekeeping teams who continue to deliver an outstanding experience for our guests.”

Sussman added: “Even though we had no experience in hospitality, we acquired the hotel so it could continue to thrive and be a source of pride for the community in Cowes. Having re-positioned the hotel and taken it to another level, the time is right for a professional operator to continue the journey.”

Ed Bellfield, regional hotel director at Christie & Co, who is handling the sale, commented: “The sale of Foresters Hall represents an exceptional opportunity to acquire a highly celebrated hotel business with a dedicated following and significant repeat patronage. The reputation of the business is a testament to the stylish upgrade under Sara and Peter’s stewardship, combined with its enviable location in Cowes Old Town.”

Foresters Hall will remain open as usual during the sales process.