Landmark Doncaster hotel sold off to healthcare firm in £6.5 million deal

A landmark Doncaster hotel has been sold off to healthcare company in a £6.5 million deal.
The Holiday Inn at Warmsworth.The Holiday Inn at Warmsworth.
The Holiday Inn at Warmsworth.

The 102-room Holiday Inn in Warmsworth has been snapped up by Westgate Healthcare, which is expanding into the hotel market.

Dr Sanjiv Patel, director of Westgate Healthcare said: “We are very excited about taking on this hotel business.

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"Whilst we will always remain committed to healthcare, entering into the hospitality market is an fantastic opportunity for us.

"The Holiday Inn Doncaster is a hotel steeped in tradition and represents a part of the community. We look forward to working with IHG to develop the hotel and make it a top destination for guests and a great place for our staff to work."

The firm, which was established in 1993, runs a number of care homes in the Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London regions, which amongst them offer an array of services including residential care, nursing care, intermediate care, palliative care and dementia care.

The hotel, known to generations as The Moat House, is located on a 6.8-acre site, three miles from Doncaster town centre.

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The property is set out over three main buildings including the Grade II listed Warmsworth Hall, which was built in 1702 by John Battie of Warmsworth. The site of the current hall has evidence of settlement dating back to the Roman era.

During World War I, the Hall firstly became occupied by English Army Officers and later German prisoners of war. It fell into disrepair and neglect until local optician, Mr. Hebditch, brought the property in 1945. With great expense, the building was restored to its former glory with the Hebditch family residing until 1960.

The hotel also boasts 14 meeting rooms; a gym; indoor pool; Jacuzzi and spa and steam room.

Julian Troup, Head of Hotels Agency at Colliers International, the firm which handled the sale, said: “The Patel family of Westgate Healthcare join an increasing list of a successful healthcare operators who have chosen to diversify into the hotel market.

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"Operational synergies and reduced regulatory matters see hotels offering an attractive alternative. They will work alongside the long established management team and workforce to further develop the successful trading business.”

“Considerable interest was expressed for the freehold sale of this hotel, which follows a pattern of increasing demand for UK provincial hotels, particularly for global branded stock.

"We are seeing an emerging trend of increased demand for quality provincial hotel opportunities from a diverse buyer set, including international investors, who have been attracted by weaker sterling and improving trading prospects; private buyers attracted to the benefits of a lifestyle opportunity to corporate investors attracted to favourable returns and real estate alternatives."