The Queensberry hotel and Olive Tree restaurant sold after 23 years

The four-AA-red-star Queensberry hotel and Olive Tree restaurant in Bath has been sold following 23 years of family ownership.

Co-owners Helen and Laurence Beere have completed the sale of the property, which they acquired for £3.7m in April 2003, to Leesco Midland Hotels, under the umbrella of Leesco Hotel Group, for an undisclosed sum.

The pair have succeeded in repositioning the Grade II-listed building as a leading boutique hotel in the region during their tenure.

Laurence Beere said that after a period of time away he planned to continue to work in the industry as an advisor to independent hospitality businesses.

In 2019, the pair completed a £1.3m refurbishment of the property, and it won Hotel of the Year – Independent at the 2020 Cateys, having been described by judge David Morgan-Hewitt as “a shining example of the very best of hospitality in our country”.

The hotel was praised for demonstrating determination after it suffered a fire that caused £500,000 worth of damage in March 2020.

Its F&B output has been equally strong. The Olive Tree restaurant was refurbished in 2015 and awarded a Michelin star in 2018 with executive head chef Chris Cleghorn, who was awarded Hotel Restaurant Chef of the Year at the 2022 Hotel Cateys. The restaurant has also held four-AA-rosettes since 2024.

Laurence said: “This journey began 23 years ago and has been a privilege and a joy for both Helen and me. We have experienced many challenges throughout the years, however the rewards of creating such a special place, the pleasure of working alongside an incredible team – in particular, Chris Cleghorn, our executive chef since 2013 – and of delivering so many special experiences for our guests, are just a few of the highlights that we will always treasure.

“We are pleased to have this opportunity to pass the business on to Leesco Hotel Group, a well-established and rapidly growing hotel group, and we found a shared spirit towards the development of the business, building on our legacy. We are excited to see how the business will grow, knowing that it has been passed on to new wonderful owners.

“We are pleased that all the team will be remaining with the business during this period of change to ensure our guests continue to enjoy the Queensberry experience.”

James Greenslade of Savills, who marketed the property, added: “I am delighted to have assisted Laurence and Helen in the sale of undoubtedly one of Bath’s best hotels following a confidential marketing exercise. Congratulations to the purchaser, Leesco Hotel Group, and I look forward to seeing the continued success of the Queensberry under its ownership.”

Leesco Midland Hotels was incorporated in 2025 with one director, Bill Lee. Its acquisitions include the Beechcroft hotel in Bognor Regis, which were bought from Peter and Lana de Savary in 2024.