French Experimental Group Acquires Cowley Manor Hotel From Curious Group
Main Photo: The Cowley Manor Hotel
Date: May 2022
Name: The Cowley Manor Hotel
Location: Near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, UK
Number of Keys: 31
Seller: A Curious Group of Hotels, owned by Jessica and Peter Frankopan
Buyer: Experimental Group, French-owned founded by Romee de Gorianoff
French hospitality firm Experimental Group has revealed its purchase of Cowley Manor Hotel, for an undisclosed sum.
The hotel has been purchased from Jessica and Peter Frankopan, co-founders of A Curious Group of Hotels.
Cowley Manor is Experimental Group’s first UK acquisition outside of London, where it owns Henrietta hotel in Covent Garden, the Experimental Cocktail Club bar in Chinatown and La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels bar in Seven Dials.
Set in 55 acres of grounds, the hotel near Cheltenham features 31 guest rooms in the main house and surrounding stable buildings, as well as a spa with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sauna, steam room and gym.
Peter Frankopan, chairman of A Curious Group of Hotels, said: “We are immensely proud of what we have achieved over more than two decades, during which time we transformed a wonderful country house into one of the best-known and most celebrated hotels in the UK.
“Experimental are a great fit for Cowley Manor, and we know their plans involve building on what we have created, retaining the contemporary design, and maintaining the outstanding service that has made Cowley Manor so popular with its many regular guests.”
Experimental Group said it will continue to operate the hotel as normal but plans to refurbish the venue interior over time and introduce four new types of rooms to the property.
All the existing team will be retained and existing events and wedding bookings will be honoured.
Romée de Goriainoff, founder of Experimental Group, added: “Cowley Manor & Spa is an exciting and landmark addition to our portfolio, right here in the Cotswolds. It’s been in safe hands for a generation and we now look forward to making it a popular addition to our offering.”
Price: Undisclosed
THPT Comment: A great hotel, lovingly established as a prime Cotswolds country-house hotel by the Frankopan family… This still leaves them with their boutiques hotels like The Portobello in London, L’hotel in Paris and the Canal House in Amsterdam
First Seen: Punchline Gloucester
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