Historic Kenilworth hotel sold to local buyer

The Old Bakery, a historic 14 bedroom hotel in the centre of Kenilworth, Warwickshire, has been sold to a local buyer who plans to grow and develop the business. Christie and Co. oversaw the sale, and a deal has now been completed with Sarj Singh and family. For the past 14 years, the hotel has been run by Alan and Janet Blackburn, who decided that the time had come to sell the site. Alan said: “The Old Bakery has served as an important community asset for many years, and we have thoroughly enjoyed our time here. We now leave behind a fantastic business opportunity for the new owners and wish them the very best of luck in their new endeavour." He added: “We would also like to extend our thanks to Joshua Sullivan of Christie and Co. whom contributed significantly toward securing a successful sale.” The Singh family plan to “build upon the hotel’s reputation”, as well as extend the operating hours, provide food service during the day, and renovate the accommodation to “attract repeat corporate and leisure customers”. Sarj said: “This is our first foray into the hotel sector and we very much look forward to further developing the business left behind by Alan and Janet, whilst upholding the existing offering that has been so well supported by the local and wider community for many years.” Situated on the town’s high street, the hotel offers 14 ensuite bedrooms, as well as its own bar and restaurant. It has been awarded a Certificate of Service Excellence by Tripadvisor, and has also appeared in the Good Beer Guide for the last 15 years. It also won CAMRA Pub of the Year for the past three years in the Coventry and Warwickshire area. Joshua Sullivan, a senior business agent at Christie and Co., said: “The Old Bakery garnered significant interest during the marketing process on account of both its profitability and reputation, as well as the fact that it commands a prominent position within the affluent town of Kenilworth. “The transaction signifies that well-traded assets in sought after locations continue to attract high levels of interest despite the current socio-political headwinds. We wish the very best for the new owners.” The site has a history dating back 200 years, and is believed to have opened as the town’s main bakery back in 1825. In the 1990s, the site underwent renovation and reopened as a hotel.