Acting on behalf of the Youth Hostel Association, leisure and hospitality specialist Sidney Phillips was instructed in July 2023 to market for sale a selection of unique hostels across England and Wales. To date, 23 properties have come to the market, 14 of which are now sold, 7 under offer and in the hands of solicitors and only a final 2 are available for purchase.
The YHA hostel opportunities have generated a wealth of interest on the open market, with a total of 389 viewings been conducted thus far, resulting in 199 offers submitted.
Having weathered the difficulties of the pandemic, hostels are once again enjoying pre-Covid booking levels. One of the positives of the Government imposed lockdowns is that it taught consumers that enjoying spending time together and getting outdoors are important life factors. This realisation has seen a rise in use of YHA hostels, with their communal areas and access to outside space such as National Parks, ancient woodland and stunning coastlines, offering a niche alternative to the standard inner-city hotel room.
Sidney Phillips have seen a variance in demand for hostels and hotels for sale across the UK, notably:
- - Interest in hostels and hotels in Wales is fuelled by location and proximity to tourist attractions. Easy access to the Snowdonia National Park and the Brecon Beacons, the beaches at Rhyl and Colwyn Bay, and the grand natural landscapes of central Wales have all been driving factors in the sector. Small and medium sized hostel and hotel properties have proved most popular in this region.
- - Hostels and hotels in the North West of England has seen strong demand for budget hotels, focussing on attracting custom from the large cities of the north. Hostels and hotels in the Lake District have been an exception, with more homely and traditional guest houses and B&B’s being the most popular type of hostelry business for sale.
- - In the South East, outlying large cities and towns with tourist attractions, such as Brighton and Canterbury, see strong demand for converted boutique townhouse hotels. In London, the most popular accommodation spots are large hotels with 100 plus rooms, or smaller 10-20 bedroom hotels near transport hubs and railway stations.
- - The South West of England, which draws in vast numbers of holiday makers throughout the year has demonstrated a strong demand for bed & breakfast or Air BnB style holiday accommodation, as these tend to be a more passive business opportunity compared to running a restaurant or pub. These are general centered around the coastal areas, but also around the inland touristic hotspots of Longleat, Dartmoor and Exmoor. The region’s large cities of Bristol, Bath and Exeter follow the trend of the larger cities in the South East, being focused on large hotels, or smaller family run businesses.
- - The Eastern Counties, as with many other areas of the UK, has seen the majority of interest in hotel businesses for sale in areas that are adjacent to, or have notable landmarks and amenities within the locality, to coastal resorts. Guest houses, especially those in the entry-level price bracket are in high demand as it creates a first step into the industry for a less experienced operator or retirement purchaser the opportunity to trade a premises that does bring with it the economies of scale and challenges of a traditional grand hotel.
- - The North East, Yorkshire and Northern Counties, all of which attract large numbers of holiday makers seeking to explore the Yorkshire Dales and Moors, Pennines, and its historic cities, shows an active market for boutique hotels as well as public houses with letting bedrooms. This more informal style of hotel accommodation caters more for walkers and ramblers.
If you are considering selling or leasing your hotel or hostel business and would like to discuss your options in confidence, please do not hesitate to contact Sidney Phillips:
- Midlands/Wales:
- 01981 250333
- wales@sidneyphillips.co.uk
- midlands@sidneyphillips.co.uk
- London & South East:
- southeast@sidneyphillips.co.uk
- North West:
- 01512 204879
- northwest@sidneyphillips.co.uk
- Wessex:
- 01460 259100
- wessex@sidneyphillips.co.uk
- Devon & Cornwall:
- 01752 234180
- devoncornwall@sidneyphillips.co.uk
- Eastern Counties:
- 01522 500059
- east@sidneyphillips.co.uk
- Northern Counties:
- 01434 607841
- north@sidneyphillips.co.uk
- Yorkshire:
- 01904 793333
- yorkshire@sidneyphillips.co.uk
- Europe:
- 01892 725900
- europe@sidneyphillips.co.uk
(1st September 2024)