Global property adviser Knight Frank has completed the sale of The Old Bell Hotel, a 13th Century hotel in Wiltshire believed to be England’s oldest hotel, to American investors Whim Hospitality, selling off a guide price of £3.75m.

Dating back to the middle ages, the 34-bedroom Grade I listed historic country hotel sits adjacent to the 12th Century Abbey in the ancient market town of Malmesbury, to the north of the River Avon.

Having been under family ownership for many years, North American company Whim Hospitality has acquired The Old Bell Hotel to capitalise on the growing staycation trend, which marks their first entry into the UK hospitality market.

The Old Bell Hotel underwent a recent restoration and continues to boast a raft of original features, including a fireplace in the restaurant dating back to 1220. The hotel has a significant dining offering, with a public restaurant, bar, as well as options for private dining. Fully licensed for indoor and outdoor civil ceremonies, the hotel caters for weddings of up to 65 guests, with the Library and Garden Room available for parties and corporate events of up to 60 people.

Located in the centre of Malmesbury, the hotel is in close proximity to the Cotswolds and only a few minutes’ drive from the M4. With excellent links to Bath and Bristol, the hotel has proved popular with both the leisure trade and corporate travellers.

Matthew Smith, Partner in the Hotels team at Knight Frank, commented: “Purported to be England’s oldest hotel it is no surprise The Old Bell Hotel attracted global interest. We are delighted for Whit and Kim Hanks of Whim Hospitality as they embark on their first UK hotel acquisition, with exciting times ahead as they have large-scale plans to reposition the business, and we are confident this will be a huge success under their stewardship. Given the strength of the staycation market, which is continuing to power the hotel market in 2021, interest in these types of distinctive assets remains high from a range of international and domestic investors.”

Whit Hanks, Co-Founder of Whim Hospitality, commented: “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring our Whim Hospitality brand of welcoming hospitality to The Old Bell Hotel in the historic market town of Malmesbury, home of our Hanks family ancestors. We are looking forward to meeting our guests, members of the community, local artisans, businesses and entrepreneurs as we create a programme for The Old Bell Hotel to be an inclusive, engaging destination in Malmesbury.”

Malmesbury is an ancient town steeped in rich history, having been considered one of the leading European seats of learning in the Middle Ages. Interesting old Malmesburians include the first king of all England, King Athelstan who reigned from 925 to 940; William of Malmesbury the first English historian; and Thomas Hobbes – considered the founder of modern political philosophy.