Brownsword Hotel Group acquires Torquay’s Imperial Hotel

Brownsword Hotel Group has announced the acquisition of the Imperial Hotel in Torquay, one of the UK’s most iconic seaside hotels.

Christina and Andrew Brownsword, who own the hotel group, said they will be embarking on a “sympathetic restoration and refurbishment” project of the 152-bedroom property, which overlooks Torbay and the Devon coast.

The Imperial is the first hotel to be sold within the 10-strong portfolio of iconic regional hotels within the Hotel Collection, which was put on the market earlier this year for a combined price in excess of £130m.

Andrew Brownsword said: “We, like many people in the industry, remember fondly the heyday of The Imperial. The hotel benefits from a very special location on the Devonshire coast and we look forward to working with its team to begin the next chapter of its history.

“We will be restoring The Imperial with the aim that it will become one of Britain’s very best seaside hotels.”

The four-star hotel will become the 14th property within the Brownsword Hotel Group, which includes hotels such as the The Bath Priory, Amberley Castle, Buckland Manor, The Slaughters Manor House, Slaughters Country Inn Gidleigh Park and the Royal Clarence Abode.

The sale was handled by Savills for an undisclosed sum.