This is a fantastic opportunity to acquire the freehold interest in a classic Country House Hotel and Inn located in the Dorset countryside, complete with brilliant dining experiences and wellness facilities. The opportunity also includes leasehold assets, comprising 4 cottages; 3 used as hotel stock and 1 as staff accommodation.

Summer Lodge is a multi-award-winning, 18th Century, full-service luxury hotel providing 25 suites & bedrooms, restaurant, bar, lounge, spa facilities and beautiful formal gardens. Alongside this, the opportunity includes the charming 16th Century Acorn Inn, with 10 bedrooms and an outstanding award-winning restaurant. The wider estate includes additional cottages providing staff accommodation, the village post office and a separate purpose built staff block.

Key Investment Highlights

• Multi-award winning, 5-star 18th Century hotel providing 25 en suite bedrooms
• The Summer Lodge Restaurant (60 covers) holds three AA Rosettes
• Bar and Whisky Lounge that can accommodate a maximum of 15 people
• Exceptional landscaped gardens
• Iconic Drawing Room with period features that can accommodate 30 people
• Health and Wellness facilities including a Spa, indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi,
  sauna, studio gym and tennis court
• Charming 16th-Century Acorn Inn is a classic British Inn with 10 bedrooms and
  an outstanding award-winning restaurant
• 7 cottages which provide additional bedroom accommodation, staff
  accommodation and the village post office
• Sold free from branding and management
• Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, the Acorn Inn, Post Office including staff
  accommodation with 13 bedrooms, and two semi-detached cottages adjacent
  to the Acorn Inn used as staff accommodation held Freehold
• There are also three further cottages with 5 hotel letting bedrooms and one
  cottage with 3 rooms used as staff accommodation held Leasehold.
• An outstanding collection of properties, across 4.5 acres of land set within the
  picturesque village of Evershot, Dorset.

Location

Summer Lodge Hotel is located in a prime rural location in Evershot, a picture-postcard village situated approximately 7 miles south of Yeovil in Somerset. The Hotel also resides within the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which attracts over 1.8 million overnight visitors every year. At the heart of the village lies its historic centre, with cobblestone streets and picturesque cottages. The village is renowned for its traditional pub and tearooms, which are popular destinations, especially after exploring the beautiful hiking trails.

The Property is in close proximity to many nearby attractions and demand generators including the World Heritage Jurassic Coastline which features some of best beaches, coves, and bays in the UK.

Business Drivers

The Hotel strategically leverages its proximity to Dorset’s attractions, including historic sites, scenic landscapes, and outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, and sightseeing, especially given that it is in an AONB, and the Dorset Jurassic Coast is on the doorstep. By offering curated experiences and local recommendations, Summer Lodge enhances guests’ enjoyment of the surrounding area.

From courts to castles, and abbeys to manor houses, Summer Lodge is surrounded by a wide variety of historic houses and gardens, with a vast selection of towns and villages nearby. Whether you are interested in the architecture and the history, the flora and fauna, or simply just enjoy taking a stroll in a beautiful setting, there are a plethora of places to visit in the vicinity, such as Abbotsbury Gardens, Barrington Court, Athelhampton House & Gardens and many more.

Summer Lodge is close to many stunning beaches and coastal areas providing uninterrupted landscapes of natural beauty to explore, such as Seatown and Kimmeridge Bay.

The Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to acquire a multifaceted business. It is being sold free from management and branding and comprises rooms, leisure, and an incredibly strong F&B offering which has garnered a well-founded reputation and generated strong goodwill that will accompany the sale.

As well as potentially repositioning the business, further value can be created through bedroom refurbishments, converting outbuildings into additional bedroom accommodation and expanding the leisure offering

The Properties

Summer Lodge Hotel

Summer Lodge Country House & Hotel is an intimate Georgian House featuring a fine dining restaurant with exquisite levels of service. The property dates back to 1798 where it was built as a dower house by the 2nd Earl of Ilchester. Throughout its history, the property has been extended and gradually improved with the spa being added in 2004. The main section of the Hotel is divided into three houses, the Main House, the Courtyard House, and the Coach House.

The Hotel has additional bedrooms at Summer Lane Cottages adjacent to the main Hotel grounds.

There is also extensive parking for up to 50 cars.

The Acorn Inn

The Acorn Inn is an award-winning traditional Coaching Inn built in the 16th Century serving hearty and homely meals. Situated just a stone’s throw from Summer Lodge, the building is arranged over basement, ground and two upper floors. The Inn is mentioned in Thomas Hardy’s novel ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’ where he describes its old beams, low ceilings, oak paneling, flagstone floors and roaring open fires.

The Inn features ten individually designed bedrooms adorned with period antiques. The restaurant serves
local dishes inspired by the finest produce from local and sustainable sources. The restaurant and bar feature terracotta tiles, soft lighting, open fireplaces, and an elegant stone fireplace carved with oak leaves and acorns. There is a large car park and beer garden with outdoor seating located to the rear of the property

The Hotel

Summer Lodge is renowned for its culinary expertise featuring a three AA Rosette fine dining restaurant and whisky bar. The Restaurant is the Hotel’s heart, serving delicious produce sourced from local farmers and suppliers. The head chef, James Mearing, operates a “farm to table” concept with the best and most seasonal produce. The Restaurant showcases an abundance of superb local ingredients, including Dorset Vinny Blue Cheese, Dorset Beef, Dorset Truffles, and produce grown in the Hotel’s kitchen gardens and polytunnels. The Restaurant can seat 30 diners for breakfast, lunch and dinner and occupies 135 sqm.

The Bar is a warm and Cosy room with wooden flooring and a roaring fire place with seating for approximately 10-15 guests. The Bar serves a vast array of cocktails and is known for its extensive whisky selection featuring the finest whiskies from Scotland, Ireland, Canada, USA, South Africa and more. Whisky Masterclass Experiences are offered to the guests and are led by the resident expert. Fine wine is an integral part of the Summer Lodge experience, with fine vintages from around the world; a selection of the great names from the Old World complemented by a wide range of wines from the New World, many of them offering outstanding value

Function and Meeting Space

With mahogany panels, rich furniture, and book-lined walls reminiscent of a country house library, The Dorchester Suite, located in the Courtyard House of Summer Lodge Hotel is ideal for corporate meetings, cocktail receptions, and exclusive private dining. At 30 sqm, it can seat 14 people in a boardroom style as well as 24 in a theatre style, providing an intimate environment in which to focus your attention. The Summer Lodge Hotel can also be hired for exclusive use; the hotel is licensed for weddings, which have been hosted in a marquee on the lawn.

Accommodation

Summer Lodge Country House & Hotel has 25 bedrooms and suites of up to 83 sq m, divided amongst the various buildings including: the main Hotel building, 7 Fore Street, and 1 & 2 Summer Lane Cottages. The Acorn Inn features 10 individually designed bedrooms providing a total bedroom count of 35.

Leisure and Spa

The Hotel’s wellness facilities are all located in one building which extends to a total of 213 sqm and is situated immediately to the south of the hotel. The pool is covered by a stunning glass conservatory with views of the surrounding garden. As well as the indoor pool, the Spa provides a jacuzzi, sauna, two treatment rooms, a gym and associated changing room facilities.

There is potential to expand the leisure offering either to the south or the north to create additional treatment rooms and Spa facilities (STP).

Gardens

While at Summer Lodge, there is no need to leave the grounds to indulge in outdoor pursuits. The Hotel has stunning gardens where you will find a croquet lawn, and an all weather tennis court, as well as a heated indoor pool, a fully equipped gymnasium and bicycles.

The Dorset Countryside offers access to many sporting activities; nearby the Hotel you’ll find opportunities for walking, cycling, horse riding, fishing and golf.

Licenses

The business operates with the necessary licenses.

Fire Risk Assessments

We understand that the property complies with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Data Room

Access to a data room is available upon request. The data room holds relevant business and property information to enable a prospective purchaser to establish whether they wish to submit an offer. In order to gain access to the data room, prospective purchasers shall be required to agree to the terms of a Confidentiality Agreement.

VAT

The Hotel is being sold as a Transfer of Going Concern (TOGC) and therefore VAT is not applicable.

Sale Structure

The properties are being sold by way of a Business and Asset sale.