Principal sells George to Brook Hotels
Principal Hotels has sold the George Hotel in Huddersfield to Brook Hotels.
The West Yorkshire property, built in 1850, has 60 bedrooms, a 140-seat ballroom, an 80-seat restaurant, a smaller 80-seat ballroom, three seminar rooms and a 60-seat board room.
The Rugby League was founded at the hotel in 1895.
Agent Christie & Co would not disclose the sale price but said it had invited and received "offers in excess of £2m".
Umesh Ummat, managing director of Brook Hotels, said he was delighted to have secured the purchase of the Victorian property. He added: "We are keen to acquire a northern presence and we are confident that the George Hotel will fit comfortably within our existing portfolio."
Brook Hotels, formed 12 years ago, has nine hotels in the UK.
It owns five hotels, including the George. The other four are: the 37-bedroom Marston Farm Hotel near Sutton Coldfield in North Warwickshire; the 24-bedroom Red Lion in Colchester, Essex; the 24-bedroom Whipper-In in Oakham, Rutland; and the37-bedroom Royal Oak in Sevenoaks, Kent.
It also manages four hotels: the 32-bedroom Manor of Groves near Harlow in Hertfordshire; the 28-bedroom London Beach in Tenterden, Kent; the 11-bedroom Pike and Eel near St Ives in Cambridgeshire; and the 102-bedroom Empress on the Isle of Man.
