Topland swallows Feathers in buying spree
A family-owned North West hotel company has been sold to acquisitive private investment company Topland.
The London firm has snapped-up the Liverpool-headquartered Feathers Hotel Group, which owns eight Best Western-branded three and four-star hotels across the region.
As a result of the deal, comprising 726 bedrooms across properties in Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, Preston and Warrington, Topland will have spent £200m in 13 months purchasing 28 hotels.
The portfolio comprises the Queen Hotel and Westminster Hotel in Chester; Llyndir Hall Hotel & Spa, near to Wrexham; Leyland Hotel in Preston; Fir Grove hotel, Warrington; Willow Bank hotel, Manchester; and the Feathers and Alicia hotels in Liverpool.
Sol Zakay, executive chairman and chief executive of Topland, said: “I am delighted with the addition of The Feathers portfolio to Topland’s hotel platform in a strategic off market transaction which enhances our impressive track record.
Paul Feather, chairman of Feathers, added: “The Feathers Hotel Group is a family run business that has been built up by my family and management team over the last 60 years.
“Although this is the end of an era for us, it is the start of an exciting new phase for the business under Topland’s ownership and we wish them all the success for the future.”
Topland bought eight Hallmark hotels in July 2014 in a £75m deal. This followed the acquisition of Menzies hotels in November 2013 for about £80m.
The deals mean the group now owns and manages 29 hotels, employing 1,600 staff, as well as leasing nine hotels.
Paul Feather was advised by North West law firm Brabners.
