Stanton Manor purchase heralds launch of new Sleeping Bear brand
Leading West hotelier Tudor Hopkins has added the prestigious Stanton Manor Hotel to his newly-launched Sleeping Bear Hotels portfolio following a deal brokered by Colliers International.
The sumptuous period property, just a mile from Junction 17 of the M4 motorway, was sold off an asking price of £1.95 million.
Peter Brunt, a director in Colliers International’s Hotels Agency team, said Tudor Hopkins had, over a period of just five years, established himself as one of the prime independents on the South West hospitality scene with a portfolio which includes the Moonraker Hotel in Trowbridge and The White Hart in Wells.
“Tudor Hopkins operated in the hotels sector for many years before his first foray into the West Country. We sold him the Old Manor in Trowle, which he re-named the Moonraker,”
he said.
“Stanton Manor in Stanton St Quintin near Chippenham will be the jewel in the crown, with 23 finely-presented letting rooms and characterful public areas which retain many of the original 19th Century features.”
Although the trade is mostly commercial with weekend weddings and parties, Stanton Manor makes an ideal base from which to explore Wiltshire and the Cotswolds along with the tourist hotspots of Bath, Castle Combe and Lacock.
Peter Brunt said the previous owners had acquired the hotel in 2016 but ill-health had prevented them from running it to its full potential.
“With its sweeping driveway, warm local stone walls and stately interior, The Stanton Manor presents Tudor Hopkins with the opportunity to realise this potential, and perhaps look to utilise the lapsed planning permission to develop a detached conference/banqueting building.”
Tudor and Lucy Hopkins, who specialise in the refurbishment and re-launch of hotels, are looking to create a group of 10-12 hotels in and around Wiltshire and Somerset.
Tudor commented:
“Lucy and I plan to bring The Stanton Manor back to life, and have employed an award-winning design company to transform the public areas and breathe life back in to the business.”