Cotswold Inns & Hotels acquires Close hotel in Tetbury

Cotswold Inns & Hotels has acquired its eighth site after it bought the 16th century Close hotel in Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

The hotel, believed to have been sold off a guide price of £2.5m, has 19 bedrooms, a bar, restaurant and conference facilities, as well as its own chapel (now a conference and wedding facility). It also has planning permission to create five additional bedrooms and a 100-cover restaurant.

Cotswold Inns and Hotels was founded in 1997 by Michael and Pamela Horton. It won the prestigious AA Small Hotel Group of the Year 2012-13 award.

The hotel was sold by Bristol businessman Geoff Dunford, whose family owned the famous Dunford Dairy business in Bristol for many generations. Geoff Dunford was also the chairman of Bristol Rovers FC - where he still serves on the board of directors. Along with son Peter, he still owns the Beeches hotel and conference centre in the city.

Dunford said: "We have enjoyed our ownership of the Close hotel over the past five years and we have made many friends in the Tetbury area. We would like to thank our staff and customers for their support and dedication. However, the focus of our group has changed and we are concentrating more on conferencing and training in Bath and Bristol, so The Close unfortunately does not fit in with our current business profile. We are sure the hotel will prosper under new ownership and will continue to be a credit to hospitality in Tetbury."

Jonathan Hill, Director of Christie + Co, added: "The Close Hotel is a stunning facility, whose location and presentation make it an ideal addition to the outstanding Cotswold Inns & Hotels portfolio. With the Highgrove Estate nearby, I'm sure HRH The Prince of Wales will approve of his new neighbours."