Southport's Bliss hotel falls into administration

Southport's Bliss hotel has been brought to market after falling into administration and is continuing to trade while a buyer is sought.

Paul Davies and Sandra Mundy, partners of James Cowper Kreston, were appointed joint administrators of Waterfront Hotels (Southport) and Waterfront Southport Properties, trading as Bliss Hotel Southport, on 28 September 2022.

Davies said: "We are continuing to trade the business as usual whilst we look for a buyer for the business as a going concern. At this time we have no plans to make any changes to the team structure and we will be honouring all function bookings."

Savills is inviting offers for the hotel, held on a long leasehold with 235 years unexpired. The day-to-day operations remain unaffected as the administrators are continuing to trade the business as a going concern.

The property has 131 bedrooms, reception, lounge, bar and restaurant and function suites, as well as including a 120-space basement car park. The sale also includes a 50,000 sq ft development opportunity adjacent to the hotel with potential for a variety of alternative uses, subject to the necessary consents. In total, the hotel and development site extends to two acres.

Tom Cunningham, director in the hotel capital markets team at Savills Manchester, said: "This is an exciting opportunity to acquire the long leasehold interest in this luxury hotel in a popular town centre location with waterfront views. The hotel has benefited from a multimillion-pound refurbishment and comes with outstanding asset management and development potential, subject to planning."

Following its takeover in December 2016 of the 133-bed Ramada Plaza hotel at the Waterfront in Southport, Bliss Hotels went on to acquire the head lease for the entire Waterfront development. The property was refurbished and rebranded and was to be the first of a ‘mini chain' of approximately 10 properties by 2026.