Andrew Long adds Lincoln's White Hart hotel to portfolio

Businessman Andrew Long has acquired Lincoln's White Hart hotel just a few months after buying Polurrian on the Lizard hotel in Cornwall.

Long, principal director of Travel Sector Property Limited (TSPL), has acquired the 50-bedroom property as a going concern by way of an ‘off market' transaction negotiated directly with Ambar Paul, principal of Contemporary Hotels. He also bought the Polurrian earlier this year.

General manager Ian Robinson and all employees will be retained under the new ownership, with plans for a "significant transformation and investment" in the hotel.

Long said: "We are proud to own this property, located within the imposing presence of the iconic Lincoln Cathedral and a few steps away from the city's Norman Castle. We look forward to progressing our proposals for significant capital investment to upgrade and improve the existing facilities…

"Our intentions are to invest in an excellent restaurant, cocktail bar, function suite and leisure facilities, restoring the hotel to its rightful status as a premium leisure and business destination at the heart of Lincoln's popular historic Uphill area."

Former owner Paul said: "We are pleased to have completed the transaction with Andrew and his companies, knowing he will successfully invest in the long-term future of the hotel."

The White Hart first opened more than 600 years ago as a coaching inn and was substantially rebuilt and extended in the early 1800s.

As with the Polurrian, TSPL has also entered a management agreement with Luxury Hotel Management (LHM), the owners of which include hotelier Nigel Chapman.

Chapman, principal of LHM, added: "We are pleased to be working with Andrew, having got to know him and his professional team very well. Lincoln is a fantastic city and the White Hart hotel occupies a unique location with strong trading attributes for leisure and business use, along with significantly enhanced food and beverage facilities to serve the local area."

Long is originally from Lincoln and worked in the city as a chartered surveyor. He retired from general practice in May 2000 to focus on the expansion of the Extra Motorway Service Area Property Investment Group, which he co-founded and continues to be chief executive and an investor.