The Von Essen chain of country house hotels has been put up for sale for around £200m and is already attracting ‘huge’ interest, according to agents Christie & Co.
The firm has been appointed to sell the 27 prestige hotels either as a portfolio or as individual assets.
The hotels include Thornbury Castle, Ston Easton Park and Bath's iconic Royal Crescent Hotel.
Bath-based Von Essen hotels went into administration in April after it failed to make interest payments on £250m of bank borrowings.
Chris Day, managing director of Christie & Co, said: “This collection of fine country house hotels offers a unique opportunity as a whole group or in parts to be added to similar hotel estates.
“Given the history and international reputation of these hotels we anticipate considerable interest from potential buyers who have already been in contact to try and secure some or all of this famous collection of hotels.”
The hotels have continued to trade since Von Essen went into administration as the individual companies holding the properties were not part of the administration.
A number of major UK and international hotel groups are understood to be interested in buying all or some of the hotels.
