400-year-old Shropshire hotel placed on the market

A Grade-II listed hotel in Bridgnorth has been put on the market with a guide price of £1.25m for the business and freehold property.

The Croft dates back approximately 400 years and has housed a hotel since the late 1890s.

Current owners, Paul and Jeanette Bates, who plan to retire, took over the business in 2019 after Mr Bates stepped back from a career in magazine and newspaper publishing.

The Croft has 11 en-suite guest rooms spread across three floors, a 40-seater dining area, kitchen and self-contained three-bedroom owner’s accommodation, all of which have been refurbished by the current owners. The property is spread across three individual but interconnected buildings.

To the rear of the property is a Scandinavian-style self-catering cabin with its own enclosed garden. There is also secure parking for two cars at the back of the property.

Its dining room is at present only used for serving breakfast but, according to Mr Bates, a new owner could add a further income stream by using it as a restaurant.

The bed and breakfast, which will remain open as usual until a new owner is in place, is located in a residential area 150 yards from Bridgnorth’s High Street and a short walk from the banks of the River Severn.

Amy Page, customer service executive at Blacks Business Brokers, which has been appointed to market the property said: “The Croft is a beautiful, historic bed and breakfast in a beautiful, historic town, and the current owners have done a fantastic job of combining its period character with a modern décor.

“With the possibility to increase occupancy further through a concerted marketing drive, and the scope to establish a restaurant on the premises, there are plenty of opportunities for a new owner to build on a tradition of welcoming guests that spans more than a century. This business provides an exceptional range of opportunities for an entrepreneurial new owner seeking a slice of life in one of the country’s most attractive areas.”