Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Historic hotels up for sale
Historic hotels on market after lockdown slump
Two historic city hotels have gone up for sale after closing down permanently during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The owner of Castle House Hotel and The Canterbury Hotel took the “very difficult” decision not to reopen the two businesses after they were forced to shut during the lockdown.
The well-known Castle House Hotel, nestled in part of the original city wall overlooking Wincheap roundabout, is on the market with a guide price of £1.75m.
Described as an “architectural gem and local landmark”, the Grade Ii-listed building was acquired by its current owners in 2008 and has since been refurbished.
In nearby Wincheap, The Canterbury Hotel is believed to be one of the oldest in the city, with original parts dating back to the late 18th century.
It has been extensively refurbished since being taken over in 2014, and is now on the market for £1.5m. It comprises two buildings, a courtyard garden and a car park.
Both hotels have 15 bedrooms, and are being sold by real estate advisor Colliers International on a joint or individual basis. Paul Barrasford of Colliers International said: “The owners recently took the very difficult decision to close the hotels and focus on their other businesses in the city.
“For new potential owners who are looking to reopen either hotel, there is clear scope to re-establish each as a strong business, in particular as the bulk of turnover was previously derived from accommodation. “Canterbury is one of the region’s most visited tourist destinations, with good transport links, including a direct one hour train into central London. “The city is also an important south-east hub which has