De Vere wins court case with Belfry hotel owner

The De Vere Group has won its High Court battle over signage with the Belfry hotel's owner, the Quinn Group, despite breaching its management agreement.

The High Court ruled that rebranding the hotel "De Vere at The Belfry" breached the agreement with the Quinn Group, which had wanted the property named "The De Vere Belfry". Quinn had been seeking to end De Vere's 25-year management tenure on the grounds of breach of contract.

However, Mr Justice Rimer found the breaches were "not material", and dismissed the Quinn Group's claim, ordering it to pay 90% of the legal costs, which are though to have reached a six-figure sum.

The Quinn Group's strained relationship with De Vere's management since buying the property in Wishaw, West Midlands, for £186m in February last year has been well documented. The company is now thought to be looking forward to a better relationship with De Vere's new owner, the Alternative Hotel Group.