Arcadian to acquire Wood Hall?

Arcadian International is believed to be in final negotiations to acquire Wood Hall, a 43-bedroom country house hotel near Wetherby, West Yorkshire, for more than £3m.

The Surrey-based group has been marketing the property as part of the Arcadian network since the end of last year, at which point it is believed to have made a down payment to secure an option to purchase.

The vendor is Country Mansion Hotels, a former Business Expansion Scheme-backed group set up in 1985, which earlier this year sold Moore Place in Aspley Guise, Bedfordshire, for about £1.7m to the Vickers family.

Its other hotel, Puckrup Hall, near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, is also believed to be up for sale, with a price tag of about £8m. It, too, is being marketed by Arcadian under contract.

Wood Hall, which dates back to 1750, sits in 100 acres of wooded parkland at Linton, on the River Wharfe. Facilities include a leisure centre, conference and meeting rooms, and it is licensed as a venue for civil wedding ceremonies.

Robert Breare, chief executive of Arcadian, said it was too early to discuss any deal. However, industry sources suggest an announcement could be made as early as this week.

Arcadian is also reported to be less than a month away from announcing further details of its £30m joint venture to roll out the successful Malmaison concept in partnership with former Hotelier of the Year Ken McCulloch.