Britannia swoops in Bradford

The operator has acquired the Midland Hotel in Forster Square from Peel Hotels, describing it as the latest addition to the “grand dame” venues it controls nationally.

Christie & Co advised Peel Hotels, a business unconnected to the Greater Manchester-based property and infrastructure giant. Peel Hotels is majority-owned by former Thistle chief executive Robert Peel and his brother Charles, and operates four hotels across the UK.

Robert Peel said: “The Midland Hotel has always been a great favourite of mine. The industrial and cultural communities of Bradford have always appreciated having one of Yorkshire’s finest hotels in their midst.”

The sale price was undisclosed.

The Midland, built in 1890 by the Midland Railway Company, formerly operated as a Best Western. It was one of three Peel hotels Christie was instructed on the disposal of in summer 2022.

With the deal complete, it will become Britannia Hotels’ 64th holding. Among its portfolio are the Britannia in the former Watts warehouse in central Manchester, and Liverpool’s noted Adelphi.

Alex Langsam, managing director of Britannia, said: “We are thrilled to have secured The Midland Hotel as a new addition to Britannia Hotels in a matter of weeks, from first seeing it, to completing the purchase by way of an all-cash deal.”

Jeremy Jones, head of hotel brokerage at Christie & Co, added: “I am so pleased that Peel Hotels have secured a timely sale so the hotel can trade under Britannia’s banner. Bradford’s appeal will soon be on a global scale, now the city has been awarded the ‘City of Culture 2025’.”