Historic hall bought by Dukes 92 company
MANCHESTER-based Elle R Leisure, the company behind Dukes 92 in Castlefield and the Albert’s restaurants, has bought Soughton Hall, a 15 bedroom boutique hotel and events venue near Mold in North Wales off a guide price of £3m.
The Grade II-listed former bishop’s palace was built in 1764 and was the ancestral home of the Wynne-Bankes until it was acquired by the Rodenhurst family in 1987 and opened as a boutique hotel and wedding venue.
The deal also includes The Stables restaurant and bar.
The hall was remodelled in 1820 by John William Bankes with the help of Sir Charles Barry, architect for the Houses of Parliament who added the mullioned windows, the first floor drawing room and dining room and the Islamic turrets upon the court walls, inspired by their travels to the Middle East.
James Ramsbottom, managing director of Elle R Leisure, said: “This is a very exciting acquisition and adds another hotel to our growing portfolio to serve both the local market and also attract customers from Cheshire, Liverpool and Manchester.
“Soughton Hall is a stunning property that we feel has a lot of potential. We will be keeping Soughton Hall and The Stables’ existing staff, and our intention is to build up the wedding and corporate business with a view to creating more jobs for local people.
“We look forward to bringing our expertise in the hotel management and corporate events and wedding hospitality to Soughton Hall.”
Manchester-based law firm Slater Heelis acted on behalf of Elle R Leisure. Katharine Mellor, partner at Slater Heelis, added: “Soughton Hall is a fantastic asset to add to the successful property portfolio already owned by our clients. This deal enables Soughton Hall to flourish and build on its reputation as a first class venue in North Wales.”
