Brooker linked to white hart

The ongoing disposal of assets at Forte is fuelling speculation that a buyer might soon be found for White Hart Hotels, the grouping marked at the end of last year for long-term disposal.

In the first half of the financial year to the end of July, Forte raised £330m from selling off unwanted businesses, including Harvester and its remaining stake in Gardner Merchant.

Last week, it confirmed the sale of two Irish and two Spanish hotels, together with four pubs, to Greenalls, raising another £14m.

White Hart could fetch at least £120m to help alleviate Forte's debt burden.

Among those believed to have looked at the group are Michael Brooker, managing director of Oriel Leisure and a former head of Copthorne Hotels, and an unnamed venture capital group.

In a trading statement for the first six months, bedroom occupancy at Forte's London hotels was reported as flat, at an estimated 85%, but achieved average room rates were up 13%. In the provinces, there was a rise of one percentage point in occupancy and room rate was up 4%.

Sales at roadside restaurants in the UK and France grew 6% thanks to new openings. Like-for-like sales were static due to the impact of the hot summer weather.