February 2022
Hall & Woodhouse is pleased to confirm its purchase of the Royal Lion Hotel, a three-star hotel located on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast.
The acquisition of the Lyme Regis-based hotel is part of Hall & Woodhouse’s ongoing estate expansion, with a number of future purchases across the south of England already in the pipeline.
The Royal Lion Hotel will join the Hall & Woodhouse family as part of the business’ Managed estate and will be the company’s first pub in Lyme Regis.
Mark James, Property Director at Hall & Woodhouse, said: “We are delighted to purchase the highly successful Royal Lion Hotel and carry on the good work of the former owner, Lesley Stone, who operated the hotel for over 19 years.
“At Hall & Woodhouse, we continually look to evolve as a business by proactively managing our estate and investing in pubs of the future. We are always seeking out further opportunities to grow through high-quality acquisitions that complement and enhance our existing estate’s offering.”
The Royal Lion is a historic 17th Century inn located in the heart of the tourist seaside resort of Lyme Regis. The inn has a characterful wood-panelled bar, large restaurant, 33 bedrooms with leisure facilities including a swimming pool and sauna, and a sizeable car park. H&W will close for a short period to carry out some refurbishment works, and will re-open with its popular food menu from early March.
Andrew Theobold, of independent hotel consultants IHCA, who brokered the off market sale, said: “I am delighted that Hall & Woodhouse has been successful in purchasing The Royal Lion Hotel, the largest in Lyme Regis and a perfect fit for the brand.
“Hall & Woodhouse successfully fended off stiff competition from other buyers, which is testimony to their commitment towards this important acquisition. This purchase also further demonstrates how the sector is driving its way to recovery, evidenced by the sheer volume of active buyers in the current climate.”
