Historic Chesterfield hotel sold in multimillion pound deal
Lyric Hotels has sold its Grade II listed Ringwood Hall Hotel near Chesterfield to a private individual off a guide price of £7.5m.
The 19th Century hotel, which has undergone significant refurbishment over the last 20 years under the ownership of Lyric Hotels, includes 74 bedrooms alongside two reception rooms, bar facilities, conferencing suite and banqueting room.
David Seton, owner of Lyric Hotels took over Ringwood in 1999 when it was a partly derelict, 21-bedroom hotel with not one ceiling in place. Since then, the company has spent £4.5m over a 16 year period and taken the employment of local people from 16 to 180.
Seton has been in the industry for over 40 years, having been the youngest hotel general manager in the UK at aged 19, and employed thousands of people during that period; including Rona Davies, the general manager of Ringwood Hall. She has worked with Seton since 1985 and will remain at the hotel working with the new owners.
Danny Singh, a private individual with experience as an operator in the healthcare sector, has bought the Ringwood Hall Hotel as his first hotel venture.
Julian Troup, head of UK hotels agency, alternative markets, Colliers International, who brokered the deal, said: “Ringwood Hall has housed a number of notable industrialists since its creation in 1809 and most notably being home to a number of the owners of Staveley Works, a large local coal and iron business, which was once one of England’s largest businesses.
“In more recent years, the previous owners have implemented a considerable number of improvements to the hall with the most recent owners obtaining a number of planning permissions which will greatly benefit the property and its future business potential. These include: planning permission for the long term erection of a marquee for events between the months of April and October; the development of external hot tubs for guests; the conversion of current management facilities into treatment rooms; the construction of an orangery to create additional dining space; and, the conversion of various existing outbuilding to create additional letting accommodation.”
“All in all, Mr Singh has chosen a fine hotel with great development potential to begin his career in the hospitality industry and we wish him the best of luck with his new venture.”
Seton added: “You never actually own a place like Ringwood, you just look after it until the next person comes along. It has been an honour to have been custodian of the Ringwood Hall for such a short time in its history. I am delighted to be leaving the hotel in a much better state than we found it in.
“Life is a series of chapters and a new exciting chapter is about to unfold in the hand of Danny and Charan I am sure that they will take the place to the next level.”
