Hotel specialist Sidney Phillips has announced the sale of YHA Holmbury St Mary, on behalf of the Youth Hostel Association.
The property is located in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a 4,000 acre woodland adjacent to a further 2,000 acres of open access countryside close to Dorking. This rural area is characterised by small hamlets, rolling hills and large areas of mature trees. The Surrey Hills offers some of the South East's best untouched countryside and has three long-distance walks running through it: the North Downs Way, the Greensand Way and the Pilgrims' Way.
The area is popular with walkers and cyclists as well as those visiting the numerous National Trust locations nearby including Leith Hill, Abinger Roughs and Rhododendron Wood. Other attractions in the region include Hampton Court Palace, Chessington World of Adventure, Thorpe Park, Legoland and central London is just 30 miles away.
YHA Holmbury St Mary is a purpose-built hostel understood to have been constructed in 1935. It is a substantial two-storey property situated on gently sloped site measuring in the region of 3.4 acres. Due to its position at the end of a narrow lane with a public car park at the end, from which many walkers embark on their trails.
The property boasts 14 bedrooms with 49 beds, a large dining room, commercial kitchen, self-catering kitchen and self-contained maisonette for staff.
The property has since its construction been operating as a hostel under the Youth Hostel Association banner, predominantly catering for walking/rambling groups, cyclists and school groups.
The property generated huge levels of interest on the open market, with in excess of 20 parties viewing on the first open viewing day. Sidney Phillips received 16 offers to acquire the property as a result, many of which were in excess of the asking price.
freehold interest of the property has been purchased off an asking price of £800,000 by experienced operators, who will continue to operate the business as a hostel under the Youth Hostel Association banner, but expanding the offering to cater for a wider variety of customers and adding additional services from within their own areas of expertise.
For more information on buying or selling your hotel or hostel property, call Sidney on 01892 725900 or email southeast@sidneyphillips.co.uk .
(August 2024)