Stellar acquires hotel and golf club in the New Forest

We are pleased to announce that we have agreed to proceed with the acquisition of a hotel and golf club located in the New Forest, Hampshire. Both assets are situated beside each other and are held within the same corporate wrapper. 

We are acquiring the businesses on behalf of Stellar Growth Inheritance Tax (IHT) Service investors and a limited liability partnership has been created accordingly. 

Property details

The Bell Inn

The Bell Inn is a Historic Grade II Listed country inn located in the centre of Brook village with 28 en-suite bedrooms. The property includes a 110-cover bar and restaurant which has the capacity to be used for functions. The property also has an external garden and terraces and a separate customer car park with 46 spaces.

Bramshaw Golf Club

Bramshaw includes two golf courses, the Manor Course and the Forest Course. Each course provides a distinct offering for members. Bramshaw also includes a clubhouse, a practice ground, a golf shop and a green keeper’s buildings and storage yard. The Manor Course and the Forest Course have car parks with 137 spaces and 50 spaces respectively.

Location

The Bell Inn and Bramshaw Golf Club are situated in the village of Brook in Lyndhurst, which is in the heart of the historic New Forest National Park. They are situated only 11 miles from Southampton, 23 miles from Bournemouth, 85 miles from London.

New Forest District has an estimated population of around 180,000 and includes some of the UK’s most desirable coastal towns.

The New Forest National Park is a popular tourist destination. New Forest District Council estimates that this generates 1 million overnight stays each year.

In addition to the countryside and seaside amenities, other popular visitor attractions include Beaulieu Motor Museum (13 miles) and Paultons Park & Peppa Pig World (5 miles).

Ocean Cruise Terminal (P&O cruise ports) is 12.5 miles away. Southampton Airport is 12.7 miles away and London Heathrow is 68 miles away.

The joint venture partner

We will be working in conjunction with Ben Blackburn Golf who will oversee the day-to-day activity of The Bell Inn and Bramshaw.

Ben Blackburn Golf’s director Ben Blackburn has previously managed the golf aspect at Murrayshall Hotel and Golf Club and is currently managing Paultons Golf Club in partnership with Stellar. We acquired Paultons Golf Club in August 2019. Paultons Golf club is approximately 5 miles from The Bell Inn and Bramshaw.

Investment Strategy

Both assets were previously owned by the Crosthwaite Eyre family. The Bell Inn was owned and operated by the family for over 250 years, whilst the family became the owner of Bramshaw in 1954. The Business was then incorporated to encapsulate the two properties.

There is ample opportunity to improve the performance of the business. Historically, The Bell Inn and Bramshaw were managed separately, with the most recent owner having little interest in the golf club and focusing solely on The Bell Inn. Some of the costs at The Bell Inn, such as wages, were not controlled as well as they could be. Bramshaw’s food and beverage service was outsourced and the golf shop was also managed by the golf professional. By bringing the management of these services in-house, there is an opportunity to increase revenues at Bramshaw immediately.

The strategy is to improve the EBITDA of the combined business by capitalising on opportunities for cohesion between The Bell Inn, Bramshaw and Paultons Golf Club. From the outset, this means streamlining efficiencies across the three entities to reduce costs and capitalising on the opportunity for cross-business promotion to improve revenues.

The wider strategy is to establish The New Forest Golf Group as the prominent location for golf in the New Forest area with The Bell Inn, Bramshaw and Paultons Golf Club jointly being the leading destination for golf tour holidays in the New Forest Area and the South of England. Owning a hotel and three 18-hole courses, an academy course and a floodlit driving range provides a very strong offering to the UK Golf Tour marketplace.

If you would like to find out more about the Stellar Growth IHT Service and the projects we invest in, click here to visit our webpage or email one of our experienced team at
enquiries@stellar-am.com. 

Written by David Stein and Jack Dobinson

Important Information

Stellar Asset Management Limited does not offer investment or tax advice or make recommendations regarding investments. Prospective investors should ensure that they read the brochure and fully understand the risk factors before making any investment decision. The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise and is not guaranteed. No assurance or guarantee is given that any targeted returns will be achieved. Forecasts of potential future results are not a reliable indicator of actual future results.

Stellar Asset Management Limited of Kendal House, 1 Conduit Street, London W1S 2XA is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.