Hay-on-Wye’s 194-year-old Swan Hotel — which has welcomed such guests as Tony Curtis, Seamus Heaney and Alan Alda — has been acquired by Swan@Hay Limited for an undisclosed sum.
The sale of the 19-room hotel, which will now undergo a £1.2m refurbishment, was handled by specialist agency Colliers International. Swan@Hay, whose parent company Llangoed Ltd is headed by managing director Calum Milne, also owns the award-winning Llangoed Hall and Sudbury House in Faringdon.
“The intention is to bring the Swan up to the same multi-award winning standard as the other two hotels in the group,” explained Milne. Llangoed Hall, which has stunning views over the Wye valley, was Hotel of the Year in 2014.
“All three hotels operate as independent companies, but offer the very best in hospitality and fine cuisine,” he added.
The Swan Hotel, built on the site of a former coaching inn believed to date back to the 14th century, has a mix of public rooms, including a sizeable function room, two bars and 19 attractive en-suite letting bedrooms. There are also a number of outbuildings with the potential to be developed as either additional bedrooms, a spa or private accommodation.
“The vendors purchased The Swan in 2005 and it has been largely run by the son and daughter of the owners since then,” said Peter Brunt, hotels director at Colliers. “After nearly a decade both wish to pursue their own independent careers, and with their parents having their own interests and businesses, the family decided the time had come to sell.”
An ideal base to explore the Brecon Beacons National Park, the Black Mountains and the Golden Valley, Brunt added: “Hay-on-Wye is a very attractive market town which enjoys a reputation as the second-hand book capital of the UK. It is well known for its diverse range of shops, attracting visitors all year round.
“The hotel market continues its resurgence, and the level of interest shown in this business illustrates that the market is active.”
