Arthritis Care sells its four hotels

UK charity Arthritis Care is selling its four hotels due to lack of demand from sufferers and the increased choice in the holiday market.

A spokesman for Arthritis Care said that although the hotels were still "well subscribed" by disabled guests generally, "there is less need for specific hotels tailored to arthritis sufferers because there is a whole new holiday landscape now. It's far, far better than when the hotels started in the 1960s and there was virtually nothing."

He added: "The range of choices now is immense and people's willingness to treat all customers equally and to try to ensure everyone's needs are satisfied has improved too - it's a much more positive outlook now."

Jenny Stephenson, chief executive of Tourism for All UK, sympathised with the Arthritis Care's position.

But she said: "The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 is having an impact in causing the mainstream market to create more accessibility but there is still a need for really good specialist providers. It would be a shame if hotels providing good service to people disappear off the disabled room providers' stock completely."

The properties up for sale are the 31 bedroom Burnlea hotel in Ayshire, the 26 bedroom Lovat Lodge in Nairn, Scotland, the 19 bedroom Orton Rigg in Poole and the 44 bedroom New Mayfair Hotel in Blackpool.

By Emily Manson

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