Historic visitor attraction bought for an estimated £2m

A hotel and leisure firm has bought one of the South West’s most popular tourist attractions.

Kents Cavern, in Devon, was marketed at a guide price between £2m and £2.5m.

It has been bought by The Tudor Hotel Collection for an undisclosed amount.

The sale included a hotel and one of the most important Stone Age sites in Europe.

The Tudor Hotel Collection bought the caves and associated features.

The caves, which have been open to the public since the 19th Century, had been owned by the same family since 1903.

The sale included the underground caverns, woodland trail, visitor centre, restaurant, car park, surrounding land, and a recently refurbished three-bedroom holiday let.

The Tudor Hotel Collection also owns the Bodmin Jail visitor attraction and hotel in Cornwall and the Redcliff Hotel in Paignton.

Rob Cox, chief executive of the firm, said: “Adding Kents Cavern to our collection is a proud moment for us and underpins our commitment to collating the finest collection of historic hotels and visitor attractions.”

The outgoing owners of Kents Cavern, Nick and Sheena Powe, thanked their customers and staff for their support over the years.

Mr Powe said: “The new owners will be bringing the Stone Age heritage alive, offering a better visitor experience, exactly what Kents Cavern needs and what I couldn’t do.”