Longmynd Hotel sale will help boost area tourism

The sale of a hotel overlooking Church Stretton to a national holiday operator could provide a real boost for tourism and outdoor activities in the area, it has been claimed.

Bob Welch, Mayor of Church Stretton, said he was hopeful officials at HF Holidays would work with the town council and community groups to entice more people to the Shropshire Hills now it had completed a deal to buy the Longmynd Hotel.

Officials at the Hertfordshire-based firm, which organises holidays at 19 sites across Britain, have also pledged to do their bit to attract more tourists.

The hotel was sold by the Chapman family to HF Holidays last week on a five-year lease-purchase arrangement which is understood to be worth millions of pounds. It had gone on the market in October priced at £1.75 million.

The venue, which can be seen for miles around, had belonged to the Chapman family since 1977. And staff at the hotel will be kept on under the terms of the sale.

Councillor Welch said: "We are delighted to hear that HF Holidays have acquired the Longmynd Hotel. They have ambitious plans to promote tourism in the area and hopefully the town council and traders will be happy to work closely with them.

"HF Holidays say they are committed locally to working with the community and boosting the economy, and we are delighted they have that approach. We are talking with the company about how we can work closely together and it is great news."

Fraser Lord, head of hotel operations at HF Holidays, said: "The Longmynd is a fantastic country house with all the facilities for great sociable holidays."

Lee Chapman, former owner of the hotel, said: "It's great that HF Holidays decided to invest in the area. The current staff will remain in their positions and we are keeping the financial arrangements behind the deal close to our chests."