Leading UK hotel group Surya Hotels has started the first phase of a major £25 million renovation of the historic Theobalds Estate near Waltham Cross.
The grade II listed Georgian manor house, which was once home to Royals and became a riding school during WWII, was converted into a hotel during the 1990s and was formerly owned by the Devere Group. Its most recent owners, Birch, fell into administration closing the site suddenly in November 2023.
With its fairytale turrets, arched windows, warm brick facade and elegant marble pillars, the picturesque hotel sits in 55 acres of parkland, complete with an ornate, landscaped Italian garden. Nestled in the Hertfordshire countryside, the site is just 10 miles north of Central London and minutes from the M25. (J25).
When completed, the site will feature 140 bedrooms, three restaurants, a bar and extensive meeting and event facilities, including 11 conference rooms (the largest with 300+ capacity); making it the perfect setting for luxury breaks, team building, weddings and other special events.
Surya Hotels plan to restore the site to its former glory with a £25 million investment. Highlights will include a major health and wellness club, opening later this year, padel courts and the future restoration of the stunning outdoor Lido. A completed section of the site, titled The Ridings Restaurant & Rooms is already open, while work on the manor house gets underway, including a complete renovation of the restaurants, bar, reception and bedrooms.
This is the biggest acquisition by Surya Hotels since it was established in 2009 with the group picking up the site for £12.5m earlier this year. Surya Hotel’s portfolio has rapidly expanded over the last decade to include 13 hotels across the UK, including The George, Colchester, Great Hallingbury Manor and the Kingscliff Hotels in Essex, the Duke’s Head in Norfolk and The Mill Hotel in Suffolk. It also owns the Dragonfly Hotels portfolio.
The majority of Surya Hotels are set amid East Anglia’s top tourist hotspots, from quaint market towns to historic high streets, all ideal for exploring the surrounding villages, countryside and coast. Two further Surya Hotels – The Hog’s Back Hotel & Spa, Farnham and Thatchers in Guildford, are located in Surrey, providing the perfect base to explore some of the UK’s leading attractions, including Ascot, Thorpe Park, Legoland and Chessington World of Adventures. The addition of Theobalds Estate brings its hotels, within close proximity to the capital, up to three, with Theobalds close to visitor attractions like Warner Bros. Studios.
The majority of Surya’s characterful hotels are boutique in style, while its Dragonfly portfolio is the group’s affordable, quality hotel range.
Surya Hotels has a trusted reputation for it sympathetic restoration of listed properties. In May 2021 it completed a £10m restoration of the historic George Hotel in Colchester, bringing the hotel back up to date with modern comforts, while retaining the historic charm and ambience of the ‘nationally rare’ building.
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