Savills to sell luxury Bliss hotel in Southport with ‘outstanding’ development opportunity

Bliss Hotel in Southport is on sale with Savills as it remains open and continues to trade, with potential investors alerted to its “outstanding development potential”. 

The four star venue is situated on the Waterfront in Southport, next door to the proposed Marine Lake Events Centre which is scheduled to open in Spring 2026. 

The £73million development, the central feature of the Southport Town Deal initiative, will also include the UK’s first lakeside sound and light show in the Marine Lake in front of the centre. 

It is forecast that the project, being led by Sefton Council, will lead to the creation of 200 jobs, increase footfall to Southport by 515,212 people each year, and lead to additional spend in the local economy of £12.2million every year.

The sale also includes the area adjacent to the hotel previously occupied by Genting Casino and the Hungry Horse restaurant. The previous Bliss Hotel owners had suggested an ambitious scheme for the site which included multi-storey residential and hotel developments, winter gardens, plus new shops and restaurants.

An artist’s impression of how the Waterfront area of Southport could look

Savills has now brought to market the hotel on behalf of Paul Davies and Sandra Mundy of James Cowper Kreston, the Administrators of Waterfront Hotels (Southport) Limited and Waterfront Southport Properties Limited, the beneficial owners of the hotel.

The international real estate advisor is inviting offers for the hotel, held on a long leasehold with 235 years unexpired. 

The day-to-day operations remain unaffected as the administrators are continuing to trade the business as a going concern.

The 4 star hotel has recently undergone a multi million pound refurbishment to provide 131 bedrooms, reception, lounge, bar and restaurant and function suites, as well as including a 120-space basement car park. 

The sale also includes a c.50,000 sq ft development opportunity adjacent to the hotel with potential for a variety of alternative uses – subject to the necessary consents. 

In total, the hotel and development site extends to two acres.

The hotel is located on Southport’s promenade with views of the Marine Lake and Southport’s coastline, next to Marine Lakes Events Centre. The Marine Lake will benefit from a £73 million investment as part of Sefton Council’s regeneration plan, which will deliver a first-class theatre space, a conference and exhibition centre, café and signature restaurant and a water and light show installation located directly opposite the hotel.

Savills describes Southport as “a popular seaside town attracting millions of tourists from across the UK to its many attractions including the annual flower show, the Ocean Plaza Shopping Centre, Southport Pier, sandy beaches and the convenience of being within a 15-minute drive from five championship golf courses”.

Tom Cunningham, director in the hotel capital markets team at Savills Manchester, said: 

“This is an exciting opportunity to acquire the long leasehold interest in this luxury hotel in a popular town centre location with waterfront views. 

“The hotel has benefited from a multi million pound refurbishment and comes with outstanding asset management and development potential, subject to planning. 

“It is also ideally situated to benefit from the substantial regeneration along the Marine Lake, which is expected to attract over half a million visitors to Southport each year.”

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