Marston hotels moves north to crabwall manor

Marston Hotels, the Kent-based private group, has moved into the North of England with the purchase of Crabwall Manor, the 48-bedroom country house hotel on the northern outskirts of Chester. The purchase brings the Marston group to 11 properties.

Crabwall Manor was privately owned by leisure entrepreneur Carl Lewis and managed by chef-turned-general-manager Michael Truelove, who has left.

Truelove has taken ownership of fledgling contract catering company The Catering Corporation, which was part of the Crabwall Manor business, but which Marston did not want. The agent for the deal was Christie & Co.

Marston chairman Chris Scragg said the intention was to continue to operate Crabwall as a venue for both the corporate and leisure sectors and further acquisitions will follow, the next probably a hotel in the South of England at the end of September.