The owners of Northumberland hotel, pub and restaurant The Battlesteads have announced they are in the market for buyers as they look to retire.
Richard and Dee Slade revealed the move in a Facebook posts to customers of the venue, which was originally built in 1747 and has won a number of awards over the years. The pair said they “had a great adventure” winning the awards for which they had run out of cupboard space for.
The message read: “None of this would have been possible without our magnificent team and of course you, our loyal customers. Many of whom we count as friends. We feel its now time, for us to pass the baton onto an investor with fresh ideas. Who can take the Battlesteads forward.
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“This process is just beginning and is rarely speedy (usually taking many months). We will continue to provide great hospitality, food and service and its definitely business as usual.
“Our team are fully aware, supportive and looking forward to future developments. So please continue to support them as Battlesteads moves onto its next chapter. Our social media channels will be updated with any future developments as we move through the journey ahead.”
The Battlesteads has become known for its on-site observatory that attracts visitors keen to explore the county’s dark skies.
And in recent years it has been touted as one of the country’s most sustainable hotels – achieved by installing a biomass boiler, solar panels and even growing its own food on-site.
Since acquiring the venue, the Slades have also expanded the number of rooms on offer and set up a meat and cheese smoking operation. In 2018 they secured £1.25m funding to acquire two nearby residential properties it turned into staff living quarters,.
The Battlesteads won hotel of the year at the 2017 North East England Tourism Awards and the tourism and hospitality trophy at the North East Rural Awards. Earlier this year it hosted part of the Northumberland Dark Skies Festivals.
The business is expected to be marketed by Christie & Co.
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