Welcombe hotel to be managed by M&T Hotel Management following sale

The 91-bedroom Welcombe hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon is to undergo a significant investment to create an "iconic" country house hotel following its acquisition by Conker Dawn from Vivion Hotels.

Located in a Grade II-listed building within a 157-acre estate, the hotel will be operated by M&T Hotel Management.

The new addition to the M&T portfolio follows on from the management agreement it signed in September to become the operating partner of Conker Dawn, a new hotel investment vehicle led by Blackbear Capital's founder and managing partner Heath Forusz, supported by John Nacos and Michael Stanton. Alongside Welcombe hotel, M&T also manages the Hampton by Hilton Waterloo and the Doubletree by Hilton, York, on behalf of Conker Dawn.

Hugh Taylor, who heads M&T alongside Sir David Michels, said: "The Welcombe is such a lovely hotel and with the investment plans M&T has developed with the investors, will become a truly iconic hotel in the UK country house market."

Forusz added: "This asset meets our strategy of acquiring first class hotels in great locations with real potential for growth. We are excited for our plans for the Welcombe and reinstating the grandeur to this wonderful asset in partnership with M&T."

Conquer Dawn confirmed that it will continue to build on its three initial hotel acquisitions with the purchase of further properties in the coming months.

M&T manages a portfolio of nearly 30 hotels, comprising more than 3,500 bedrooms.