Roxburghe Estates said it agreed terms for Bespoke Hotels to acquire its Roxburghe Hotel and Golf Course near Kelso in the Scottish Borders.
Roxburgh Estates operates across 52,000 acres of the Scottish Borders and its business activities include farming, forestry, renewable energy, tourism and leisure.
Bespoke Hotels said it is the largest independent hotel group in the UK.
Bespoke said the Roxburghe’s 22-bedroom luxury hotel and championship golf course “is an attractive fit within a collection that includes the Chester Grosvenor, Storrs Hall in Cumbria, as well as a robust Scottish portfolio, featuring the Carnoustie Golf Hotel, Tulloch Castle, Dingwall, and Stonefield Castle, Tarbert.”
Bespoke said the opportunity for expansion of the facilities at the Roxburghe alongside the development of self-catering lodges “is actively being considered.”
In 2010, planning consent was granted for 60 holiday lodges, a new clubhouse and conversion of the existing clubhouse to a 10 bedroom dormy house, all of which were key factors in Bespoke’s decision to acquire the business.
“The creation of a luxury destination resort is the principal vision of the new owners, building on the outstanding facilities and reputation which the Roxburghe enjoys,” said a joint statement from Roxburghe Estates and Bespoke.
Bespoke Hotels founder and CEO Haydn Fentum said: “We are hugely excited by the potential of The Roxburghe and look forward to taking the business into a new era.
“We are keen to build on the excellent work done to date by both Roxburghe Estates and ICMI (Inverlochy Castle Management International), which has given us an extremely sound platform on which to build.
“We would like to extend our thanks to the outgoing management team, as well as to both the hotel and golf course staff, with whom we hope to build a fruitful relationship moving forward.
“We are particularly grateful to the support of the Duke of Roxburghe and Roddy Jackson, chief executive of Roxburghe Estates, alongside whom we are delighted to be working, and whose enthusiasm for the business is an ongoing source of inspiration.”
The Duke of Roxburghe said: “I am delighted that we have reached agreement with Bespoke, knowing that they have exciting plans for the future and will invest significantly in the business.
“We look forward seeing the Roxburghe grow in the years ahead under new ownership and achieving our long-term vision of a high-quality resort destination.
“We strongly believe the Roxburghe has a secure and successful future under Bespoke Hotels’ management.
“The business has been a particular interest and focus of mine since it first opened as a country house hotel in 1982, which subsequently expanded with the development of the first championship golf course in 1995.
“It has given me enormous pride and satisfaction to see it develop successfully over the years, but it became clear that a new investor needed to come aboard for the Roxburghe to move to the next level and become a world class destination.
“We are therefore extremely pleased to hand over the business to such an experienced and committed operator as Bespoke.”
Bespoke Hotels represents more than 200 properties worldwide. Founded in 2000 by Haydn Fentum and Robin Sheppard, Bespoke manages more than 9,500 hotel rooms, 8,000 employees and £815 million of assets.
“I know how much the quality of service is valued by our customers, together with the high standards maintained in the hotel and on the golf course,” added The Duke of Roxburghe.
“I am therefore pleased to be able to confirm that all the existing staff will be retained, and I would like to pay particular thanks to the team for ensuring the Roxburghe has achieved such high standards in all areas.
“Although ICMI will not be continuing as managers, I am confident the professionalism, high standards and attention to detail for which the estate has become known will long be maintained into the future.”
