UK Hotel Operating Partner / Leaseholder Wanted — Operator-Led Acquisition
I’m looking to speak with an established hotel operator that wants to expand its UK portfolio without tying up the capital required to purchase another freehold hotel outright.
I’m developing an operator-led acquisition model where I find the operator first, understand exactly what hotel they want, and then source and structure the freehold acquisition around their requirements.
What this could offer the operator:
- A long-term operating position of approximately 20–25 years, with no rent reviews
- The ability to select preferred geography, hotel size, segment and operating profile before I source the asset
- Greater capital efficiency than purchasing the full freehold
- Predictable long-term property costs, with rent and future review mechanisms negotiated upfront
- Flexibility around operational control, refurbishment and maintenance responsibilities
- A landlord/freehold owner taking the long-term property ownership and financing exposure
- No requirement to commit capital to a random property that has not been approved by the operator
I am particularly interested in operators capable of considering an upfront lease premium/capital commitment in the region of £300,000–£800,000, depending entirely on the hotel's economics, rent, location, lease terms and operator requirements.
The premium and rent would be negotiated together — I am not looking to maximise both at the operator's expense. The hotel has to remain commercially attractive for the operator throughout the lease.
Most importantly, this would not involve transferring money to me before a property is acquired.
The intention is for any serious commitment to be legally documented and conditional upon an agreed property being identified, satisfactory due diligence, acquisition finance/lender approval and successful completion.
If the required acquisition does not complete, the lease does not complete. Any pre-completion deposit or committed funds would be dealt with through the agreed solicitor-controlled contractual mechanism.
I’m looking for one or two serious operating partners with active UK expansion plans rather than hundreds of enquiries.
Confidential conversations are welcome.
