Iconic Gloucestershire hotel is sold to Paris-based hotel group

It has been announced that the award-winning Gloucestershire hotel, Cowley Manor, is now under new ownership.

After nearly a quarter of a century in the hands of A Curious Group of Hotels group, which lovingly restored the manor house and Grade II* listed gardens, the hotel near Cheltenham has been sold.

The 31-bedroom manor house has been bought for an undisclosed sum by Paris-based Experimental Group, a business started in 2007 by three childhood friends and which also owns bars, restaurants and hotels in Paris, London, Venice and New York.

Peter Frankopan, chairman of A Curious Group of Hotels, said: ‘We are immensely proud of what we have achieved over more than two decades, during which time we transformed a wonderful country house into one of the best-known and most celebrated hotels in the UK.

‘The list of awards that we won in this time – including Conde Nast Traveller Best Spa in the UK and the hotel pool being named ‘coolest in the world’ by GQ – speak to the commitment of the staff and the huge popularity of Cowley Manor over many, many years.’

Pierre Charles Cros, who founded Experimental Group with Olivier Bon and Romée de Goriainoff, said: ‘We are delighted and humbled to have the opportunity to become the guardian of this incredible property, one that we fell in love with many years ago.

‘We are committed to working together with the team to ensure Cowley Manor continues to hold a special place in the hearts of the local community and welcomes new guests to experience its beauty.’

It is understood that chef Dominic Hargreaves has joined Cowley Manor to help create a new restaurant menu – with plans to introduce a specialist wine list and work closely with local breweries and distilleries.

It’s business as usual for Cowley Manor’s 70 staff and all existing bookings for hotel stays, weddings and events will be honoured.

It’s also understood A Curious Group of Hotels is exploring at least one other acquisition to add to its portfolio, which includes The Portobello Hotel in London, L’Hotel in Paris and Canal House in Amsterdam, which it hopes to announce later this summer.