It is a big sale in every sense.
The new owners describe Middletons Hotel on Skeldergate as “the largest single property within York city walls” apart from York Minster.
Developed by the Clark family over the past 40 years it has been sold to Lancashire brewery, pub and hotel company Thwaites.
Middletons Hotel comprises of 56 bedrooms spread across six historic listed buildings – Lady Anne House, The Organ Factory, Cromwell House, Sir Joseph Terry House, Chaplin House and number 56 Skeldergate. They are arranged around a courtyard setting.
Lady Anne House was originally built as a hospital for 20 widows of York freemen. It was paid for by an endowment from Dame Anne Middleton in 1659, the wife of Peter Middleton, the then Sheriff of York.
It was semi-derelict before Kathe and Andrew Clark bought the main building in 1973 and renovated it to become a unique and popular hotel. Their two daughters, Henny and Susie, then took over the running of the hotel.
Outstanding property
Chief executive officer at Thwaites, Rick Bailey, said: “Middletons is an outstanding property in a stunning location and has a fascinating history.
“The Clark family have built up a unique asset over many years, with a wonderful local reputation and huge character, from a series of unused and almost derelict buildings.
“It is a well-run business and York is a strong market. We are delighted to have been able to acquire it and look forward to continuing to develop it over time.
“It is very much business as usual, so any bookings with the hotel, whether in the restaurant, hotel or leisure club, will continue to operate as normal.”
A safe home
Blackburn-based Daniel Thwaites was started as a brewery, and now owns more than 270 pubs. It first moved into the hotel industry in the early 1980s and Middletons takes its portfolio of hotels and inns to 16. It was named AA Hotel Group of the Year in 2016.
Henny Clark said:
Middletons has been at the centre of our family all my life and we are delighted to be selling it to Daniel Thwaites, another company with strong family values.
I am happy that the hotel has found a safe home in a company that will look after it as we have done and I wish them all the best for the future.
It is the second big York acquisition by Thwaites in recent years. In 2014 it bought the Judge’s Lodging on Lendal, transforming it with a £1.7 million investment.