Lancashire wedding venue sold
WEDDING and conference venue Astley Bank Hotel in Darwen near Blackburn has been sold for an undisclosed sum to experienced hotel operator Alan Ezekiel.
The specialist hotels team at real estate adviser Colliers International acting on behalf of owners Nigel and Helen Ainscow – who are retiring from the hospitality trade after operating the venue set in a 19th century manor house since 1997 – completed the deal.
Astley Bank Hotel has 37 individually designed bedrooms including 10 suites, a recently refurbished restaurant for up to 100 covers and eight conference rooms with state-of-the-art audio and video equipment set in 2.5 acres of maintained gardens and grounds.
Ezekiel said: “Astley Bank Hotel is one of the finest hotel establishments in Darwen and for the past 19 years, under the helm of Nigel and Helen Ainscow, has excelled in its wedding, conferencing and corporate business facilities for the local and regional communities of Blackburn, Bolton and beyond.”
Neil Thomson, associate director, hotels agency at the North West office of Colliers International in Manchester, secured the sale and said: “The acquisition of Astley Bank Hotel by Mr Ezekiel reflects strengthening momentum in the market for regional hotels with potential buyers being supported financially by banks keen to fund profitable and established businesses in hospitality and leisure.
“This transaction epitomises an encouraging start to 2016 following an excellent 2015 for the hotels team at Colliers International during which we achieved a 30%increase in the sale of hotels in the North West of England.”
