New era for landmark Shropshire hotel
A landmark Shropshire hotel at the foot of The Wrekin has been sold for an undisclosed sum, it was revealed today. A landmark Shropshire hotel at the foot of The Wrekin has been sold for an undisclosed sum, it was revealed today. The Buckatree Hall Hotel, which was on the market with a price tag of £1.65 million, has been sold to businessman Grant Moon, who said he plans to refurbish the 62-bedroom hotel and add leisure facilities to the venue.
A landmark Shropshire hotel at the foot of The Wrekin has been sold for an undisclosed sum, it was revealed today.
The Buckatree Hall Hotel, which was on the market with a price tag of £1.65 million, has been sold to businessman Grant Moon, who said he plans to refurbish the 62-bedroom hotel and add leisure facilities to the venue.
The freehold of the hotel has been sold by Christie + Co, acting on behalf of previous owners, the Matrix Group.
Gavin Wright, the director who handled the sale at Christie + Co, said Mr Moon and his family had owned a variety of leisure-based businesses for many years.
He said: "Grant has been looking to buy a hotel since he sold the Crewe Arms in Cheshire a few years ago, and he and his brother now plan to refurbish Buckatree Hall Hotel throughout and add leisure facilities."
The hotel is situated in attractive grounds and gardens near Wellington.
The business includes an 80-cover restaurant, a 50-cover bar, a 200-capacity function room and a variety of other, smaller meeting rooms.
The business also includes a five-bedroom staff house, which is located at the rear of the site.
Mr Wright added: "This attractive country house has enormous potential and, with the hotel experience of the Moon family and their plans to refurbish the hotel, Buckatree Hall Hotel will be a top destination hotel in the Shropshire region once again."
The Buckatree did face closure around four years ago, when it went into administration.
Although the hotel building and land was owned by the Matrix Group, it was operated by Swallow Hotels which was placed into administration in 2006.
Administrators Ernst & Young were forced to close 20 hotels and pubs across the country, axing 220 jobs.
However the Buckatree Hotel was eventually saved following major negotiations between the Matrix Group and the administrators.
London-based development company Matrix said at the time it had no intention of shutting the hotel as this would reduce the value of its asset.
By Amy Bould
