Historic Northumberland hotel - 'in dead centre of Britain' - dating back to 15th Century put up for sale

The Centre of Britain Hotel & Restaurant in Haltwhistle has been brought to the market by specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co.

The 12-bedroom boutique hotel is steeped in history. It was once a Border Rievers' Pele Tower, parts of which date back to the 15th century.

Haltwhistle is well known for being the geographical ‘Centre of Britain’ and was labelled as such 25 years ago by local business owners, David and Grethe Taylor who, in 1997, purchased, redeveloped, and subsequently launched the ‘Centre of Britain Hotel & Restaurant’.

They have grown the hotel into a popular business with a healthy turnover but feel that it is time for a new, full-time hands-on owner operator to take over.

The town was labelled as the ‘Centre of Britain’ because, whichever way you measure it, from North Orkney to Dorset’s Portland Bill, Bowness on Solway to Wallend, Haltwhistle lies in the middle of Britain. This title has garnered the small-town much interest, inspiration, and investment and, of course, is where the hotel gets its name.

David said: "The general, sometimes controversial, reaction to the Centre of Britain has been astonishing. It used to be 'Haltwhistle, where's that?' now it's 'Haltwhistle – The Centre of Britain’. They had never heard of us. They have now!"

Grethe added: "We love meeting all our guests and have made friends from many different countries. Now, after many successful years, we are looking to retire and take up the many invitations to visit them!"

David said: "As well as a profitable business, I do believe that there is also great potential, with its distinctive crest, to develop the Centre of Britain, as a merchandising brand."

Mark Worley, director at Christie & Co, said: “Our clients’ intentions are to retire. They currently operate the hotel to suit their own lifestyle, however, we are certain that new owners could easily adapt this to increase trade and profits.”

Centre of Britain Hotel & Restaurant is on the market for an asking price of £695,000.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

If you can, please do pick up a copy when you are at the shops. Thank you for your support.