The Waterfront Hotel in Southport, formerly Bliss Hotel, has been put up for sale after a potential sale fell through.
The luxury four star site was placed into administration last year, but has continued to trade.
Paul Davies and Sandra Mundy of advisory firm James Cowper Kreston were appointed by Waterfront Southport Properties Ltd and Waterfront Hotels (Southport) Ltd to oversee the administration process.
The hotel includes 131 bedrooms and penthouses, a lounge bar, restaurant, roof garden, gym, conferencing and events space, as well as secure underground car parking for 120 cars.
It sits in a prime position in Southport, next door to the proposed new Marine Lake Events Centre, with building work currently underway.
The ambitious £73 million scheme, which is being developed by Sefton Council as the central Southport Town Deal scheme, won planning permission earlier this year and is forecast to attract over half a million additional visitors a year.
Waterfront Hotel in Sputhport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
In a document filed with Companies House earlier this year, administrators have confirmed that a preferred buyer had been identified for Waterfront Southport Properties Ltd.
They said: “We have a preferred buyer for the property who wishes to also redevelop the unoccupied building adjacent to the main hotel but remain at an early stage in the process as we discuss the potential assignment of the lease with the freehold owner.
“Whilst we remain hopeful that we move forward with an assignment of the long leasehold to this buyer, we are not in a position commercially to release any further information about the anticipated value and timing of this sale.”
The hotel has now been put back on the market after no deal was reached.
Christie & Co and Savills are leading the sale process.
The hotel, located on the Promenade, was first put on the market in September 2022.
David Lee, regional director in Christie & Co’s North and Midlands Hotels team, said:
“With its waterfront views and ideal position near Southport’s many local attractions, the sale of the Southport Waterfront Hotel presents a prime opportunity to purchase a substantial, well-maintained hotel in a popular UK seaside town.
“The regeneration of the Marine Lake area is expected to attract over half a million visitors to Southport each year and Royal Birkdale playing host to the Open in 2026 is expected to bring over 250,000 visitors to the area, so there is significant scope for a new owner to grow the business and increase turnover in the next few years.”
Waterfront Hotel in Sputhport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
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 a luxury seaside hotel. The property has benefited from a multimillion-pound refurbishment and comes with outstanding asset management and development potential, subject to planning.”
Offers are invited for the hotel on a long leasehold basis, with 235 years left on the lease.
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