The Manor hotel in Oxford sold for £4.8m

The Manor hotel at Weston-on-the-Green, near Bicester in Oxfordshire, has been sold off a guide price of £4.8m. The sale, to a private purchaser, was negotiated by Colliers International, acting on behalf of administrators at property and leisure specialists Moorfields Advisory. The 32-bedroom, Grade II-listed hotel, which has origins dating back to the Doomsday Book, had continued to trade fully while in administration. It has been purchased as a going concern with all employees being retained. The Manor has period features that include a moat, a minstrels’ gallery, and a Tudor fireplace. The 12-acre gardens feature a tree-lined entrance driveway, a topiary garden, an outdoor pool and a knot garden which is licensed for weddings. Peter Brunt, director in the Hotels agency team of Colliers International, said: “It is a pleasure to see that a new chapter in The Manor’s fascinating history is set to unfold under the stewardship of new owners who are committed to retaining and enhancing its historic character, while also growing the business. “This is a magnificent property, and it generated a huge number of enquiries from around the world resulting in a very competitive tender process. Colliers has now been left with a number of highly-motivated buyers with significant available cash, many from overseas, looking to buy similar hotels in the region.” The Manor is now set to undergo a “extensive” refurbishment and redecoration under its new owners, which will include the construction of an orangery overlooking the gardens, with space for around 160 covers. Development director Khalid Undre, who will be the leading the renovation programme, said: “Although The Manor has been rescued from administration, it is now essential to secure its future. This will be done by drawing upon the heritage of this beautiful property and enhancing existing features to elevate the experience of guests. “For example, the gardens are a particularly stunning feature of The Manor, and in order to enable guests to gain further enjoyment from them an orangery is to be constructed which overlooks the gardens and has seating for around 160 diners.” He added: “In recognition of the history of the gardens, we have already bought six peacocks. We also intend reinstalling the paddock at the front of The Manor, with the aim of offering guests riding experiences, and are planning to offer cycling tours of the Cotswolds countryside. “The interior redecoration that will take place will emphasise the opulence and period splendour of The Manor with the aim of further augmenting the experience of guests, particularly visitors from abroad who greatly appreciate historical buildings such as this.”