New owner moves into award-winning Eastbourne hotel

Roy Burman, owner of The Mowbray Hotel, in Lascelles Terrace, completed the purchase and moved into the award-winning business on Friday (March 20), which was on the market for around £840,000.

Roy said, “We have opened to shut. But, with years of experience, there is no point fretting about what we can’t change.”

The hotelier said he has also offered key workers beds in his hotel and has already had a nurse stay the night and 16 OpenReach workers, who were working on maintaining the internet services in the area.

Roy said, “I have offered the accommodation to vital services. The hospital has expressed interest. This week I have 16 Openreach workers staying - it’s an essential service so I am glad to help them. You have got to do your bit for your community.”

Roy urged the public to ‘keep positive’, and when things are back to ‘normal’ the community can have a ‘get together’.

Since 2008, The Mowbray has been owned by Darren and Laura Weir. The couple decided to sell the guest house to concentrate on their full-time careers and to spend more time with their young family, according to the specialist business property advisers involved in the sale Christie and Co.

The hotel has previously won awards, most notably in 2016 when it won the Les Routiers’ ‘Guest House of the Year’.

Les Routiers was set up in 1934 as a guide for travellers looking for hotels and restaurants. It has grown in the UK and now champions hotels that offer ‘quirky individuality, value for money and a genuine alternative to chain establishments’, according to the Les Routiers website.

Roy also owns pubs and BnBs across Sussex which includes The May Garlands Inn in Horam.

Director at Christie and Co Andrew Moore, who handled the sale, said, “Having been unsuccessful in selling the business with another agent, Mr and Mrs Weir came to us for help.

“Although it took a little while to find a buyer, we had two offers for it at the time and agreed the sale to Mr Burman. The transaction took longer than we would have hoped, but we dealt with all the hurdles put in front of us and got the sale through.”

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