A historic Georgian hotel in Exeter has changed ownership.
- Queens Court Hotel, now owned by the Harries-Jones family, was sold for an undisclosed price.
- The hotel, a Grade II listed property, features 20 rooms and a function suite.
- The sale was managed by commercial property adviser Christie & Co.
- The property previously belonged to K Balendran, who acquired it in 2015.
A historic Georgian-era hotel situated in the heart of Exeter has been acquired for a confidential amount. The Queens Court Hotel, known for its Georgian architecture, is a Grade II listed property near Exeter St David’s and Central stations. It comprises 20 rooms and has previously operated as a bed and breakfast, serving visitors to the city.
The new proprietors, the Harries-Jones family, bring with them experience from operating the Galaxie Hotel in Oxford. Their acquisition of Queens Court Hotel is part of a wider strategy to expand their footprint in regional cities across the UK. Upon the completion of the transaction, Charlie Harries-Jones remarked, “We are delighted to announce the purchase of Queens Court Hotel. This is the first step in our growth strategy to provide differentiated hotel accommodation in regional cities across the UK. We look forward to working with the current management team and would like to thank those who have helped us secure this transaction.”
Formerly owned by K Balendran since 2015, the property has seen its restaurant closed since 2020, though it maintains a lounge bar and a suite for functions. The hotel had attracted significant interest from potential buyers, leading to competitive bidding and a final sale price that exceeded the initial asking price.
Christie & Co, the business property adviser facilitating the sale, reported substantial interest when the hotel was listed, with Stephen Champion, director in the South West Hotels team, stating, “Queens Court Hotel generated significant interest when it was launched to the market resulting in competitive bidding from multiple parties and a sale price in excess of the advertised asking price. We are delighted to have acted for our client on the sale, with Christie & Co also having previously brokered the sale of the hotel in 2005 and 2015.”
The sale of Queens Court Hotel marks a strategic expansion for the Harries-Jones family in the UK hotel market.
