Spa hotels sold to city property firm

DROITWICH’S historic Chateau Impney and Raven Hotels have been sold to a Birmingham-based property firm, administrators have revealed.

BDO LLP confirmed the assets from the former owners Impney Group Limited had been purchased by Greyfort Properties Limited in a deal which brings to an end almost three years of uncertainty over the two local landmarks.

The future of both sites have been in question since November 2009 when the company running the hotels collapsed.

But the deal will see all 44 jobs at the Chateau Impney preserved while the administrators said the Raven Hotel site looked set to be developed.

The town centre hotel closed its doors in May 2010 and moved all its business to the Chateau Impney after The Impney Group Limited went into administrative receivership.

Kim Rayment, BDO business restructuring partner, said: “I am delighted that 44 jobs at The Chateau Impney Hotel have been saved with the transfer of staff to Greyfort Properties Limited and the business can now move forward.

“The sale of The Impney Group Hotels has ensured that The Chateau Impney Hotel continues to trade as a hotel and will remain an important local landmark in Droitwich Spa.

“Furthermore, the sale of The Raven Hotel will allow this important local site to be developed,” she added.

Droitwich’s MP Peter Luff hailed the announcement as ‘a big and welcome step forward’ but said many questions remained to be answered

“This ends a period of damaging uncertainty for both hotels. The Chateau has continued to trade, but the Raven has been closed, for too long, leaving a hole at the heart of Droitwich,” he told The Standard.

“I will be seeking urgent clarification of the intention of the new owners in respect of both hotels. The Chateau appears to be destined to remain as a hotel, but we need to know exactly how the new owners intend to ‘develop’ the Raven.”

Greyfort Properties Limited did not wish to comment at this stage.

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