Balfour Hospitality to sell Hush Heath Inns

Balfour Hospitality has put its Hush Heath Inns portfolio on the market as it looks to focus on its other bars and winery.

The sale will end the group’s eight-year partnership with Stonegate Pub Company, which runs the five Hush Heath pubs as a joint venture.

The sites included in the deal are the Falcon hotel in Painswick, the Woolpack in Tenterten, the Ship in Rye (pictured), the Swan in Forest Row and the Windmill in Hollingbourne.

Balfour Hospitality, which is run by Leslie Balfour-Lynn, plans to focus on growing its premium wine and hospitality business. This includes the Balfour Winery in Kent, which is on track to welcome more than 70,000 visitors in 2025, up from a record-breaking 45,000 in 2024. The vineyard was planted in 2022 and its Balfour Brut Rosé 2004 became the first English wine to win a gold medal and the trophy at the International Wine Challenge in 2007.

It also owns pubs and bars including the Tickled Trout in Kent and Balfour at Bow Wine Vaults in London.

Balfour-Lynn said: “As we look to the future, we are excited about the opportunity to bring our own pubs even closer to the spirit of Balfour Winery; a place where outstanding food, wine and warm hospitality come together. This marks an exciting new chapter for our pubs, our winery and our guests.”

A guide sale price was not disclosed.