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The Coquetvale Hotel, a Victorian property in the Northumberland town of Rothbury, has officially been sold to new operators for an undisclosed price.
The hotel was originally built and owned by Lord William Armstrong, the industrialist who pioneered hydraulic engineering in the 19th Century. He also owned nearby Cragside House and Estate, which is now a National Trust site.
Armstrong is said to have built the Coquetvale Hotel to act as overspill accommodation for guests staying at Cragside.
At the point of sale, the hotel comprised 14 ensuite guest rooms, a bar and restaurant, a function room, and owners’ apartment, as well as a decked terrace with countryside views.
The new owners intend to carry out some refurbishments and upgrades, with a view to reopen in time to welcome the remainder of the summer trade. The restaurant, bar and café will be opening under new branding, and they also intend to maximise use of the decked terrace.
Located on the south side of the River Coquet, which flows through Rothbury, guests of the hotel can reach the Northumberland coast in less than half an hour. The hotel also benefits from the nearby A697 linking Tyne and Wear to the Scottish borders and Edinburgh beyond.
Mark Worley, director of hotels at Christie and Co, said: “I know the Coquetvale Hotel very well, having sold it to the departing sellers back in 2021 and indeed, I also sold it to the previous owners back in 2016 in an “off market” deal.
“This latest sale illustrates that despite some operational and cost challenges in the hospitality sector at present, the selling market remains robust, and demand for leisure-led hotels such as this, in popular and tourist-driven locations, is still very healthy.”
