Under new management

De Savary's Manor

Entrepreneur Peter de Savary has bought the Manor House hotel on Dartmoor from Le Méridien off a guide price of £7.5m, and will take over the property from the end of January 2003. The Manor House is a four-star hotel with 86 bedrooms and a golf course, set in 300 acres. It is the third of six former Principal hotels to be sold. Weatheralls was the agent.

The Lords got

The Lords Group of Hotels has bought the 105-bedroom Best Western Cumberland hotel in Harrow, Middlesex, from Michael Smith, who had owned the hotel for more than 30 years. A sales price close to the £5.5m asked by Knight Frank was achieved. The Lords Group, already owner of four London hotels, will expand the conference facilties and boost bedroom numbers to 150. It will retain the Best Western brand.

Successful Hunts

Catering and retail food wholesaler Hunts Frozen Foods has bought the 12-bedroom, 40-seat Anvil hotel and restaurant in Pimperne, Dorset, from Colin and Carolann Palmer, for a sum close to the asking price of £450,000. It is the second hotel bought by Hunts through agent Christie & Co, following its acquisition of the 27-bedroom Wessex Royale hotel in Dorchester.

New reign in Cumbria

Nigel Thomas and Heather Sanderson are the new owners of the 14-bedroom Ravensworth hotel in Windermere, Cumbria. They bought the property from Tony and Sue Le May for £462,500, slightly below the guide price of £475,000 advertised by agent Knight Frank.