150 year-old manor hotel acquired with six-figure funding

Partners Mark Devlin and Richard Sharpe have acquired 150 year-old West Layton Manor following a six-figure funding package.

The funding from NatWest supported the purchase of the historic country guesthouse, and the pair used their savings to finance the remainder.

Mr Devlin, an Australian native who was Heathrow operations manager for British Airways, quit his job to run the guest house full-time. Partner Richard will provide support alongside his full-time job as a pilot with Emirates.

They have spent several weeks refurbishing West Layton Manor. Which was built in 1872 by the Easton mining family. It now includes an additional guest suite so that guests have a choice of six bedrooms. The business is also due to appear on a Channel 4 programme that follows the journey of start-up businesses, later in the year.

Mark Devlin said: “It had always been our dream to own and run a guest house and when we were working in Dubai in 2018 we spotted West Layton Manor online and knew before we’d even seen it that it was the one for us.

“We’d been saving for five years and the additional funding from NatWest meant we could put in an offer straightaway. The bank has been extremely supportive throughout the whole process, providing much more than just access to finance, but advice on all aspects of running a business.

“Since acquiring the guest house, it’s been non-stop, but we’ve loved every minute of it and we’ve really enjoyed serving our guests and making sure they have the best stay possible. We can’t wait to welcome even more over the coming months and years.”

Rob Utton, relationship manager, NatWest, said: “It is clear to see that Mark and Richard have a real passion for running their own guest house business and this is reflected in the exceptional customer reviews and industry-leading occupancy rates.

“It’s been a pleasure to support them on their journey and I wish them both every success for the future.”