Photos: iconic Cary Arms Hotel & Spa hits the market

One of the most iconic seaside hotels in the Bay is up for sale with an asking price of £4.5 million.

The award-winning Cary Arms Hotel & Spa is already attracting interest after it was announced it was being put on the market just last week.

It has been owned by the de Savary family since 2006. World-renowned businessman and entrepreneur Peter de Savary died three years ago.

Since then his family have been selling hotels in the Havana West group. The Cary Arms will be the fourth to be sold with two remaining.

Ian Solkin, Managing Director of hotels at Havana West, said: “The Cary Arms has been a long-term investment. It has been enjoyable for the de Savary’s. It was a project Mr de Savary loved. He came down here and he loved the setting.”

He bought the Cary Arms in 2006 and a refurbishment project was given planning permission and delivered in 2009.  

Mr Solkin said: “It was one of the first of then mayor Nick Bye vision projects. We should thank the local authority for giving us a lot of support over the years.”

A top quality beach huts and spa development followed in 2014.

Mr Solkin said: “What we found with our investment was that properties along the top on Babbacombe Downs were given a new lease of life with people starting to invest in those properties.”

He added: “We have always said it is about quality not volume. We are not after the coach parties. It was about bringing people down to quality accommodation for a quality stay which fits in with what the local tourism company wants to see.

We believe the Cary Arms has been an enabler for other hotels.”

One of Mr de Savary’s first quality-style adventures into South Devon was the luxury Bovey Castle at Moretonhampstead. He then moved on to the Cary Arms where between £3 million and £4 million has been spent on improvements.

Mr Solkin said: “All our staff and suppliers are local and we have some former South Devon College students who are still there with us today.” 

The property has been extensively refurbished and extended during the de Savary ownership, with six sea view Beach Hut rooms and two sea view Beach Suites being added along with state-of-the-art spa facilities and waterfall hydrotherapy pool.

Dating back to the 1880s this historic seaside hotel is located in the picturesque Babbacombe Bay and has won multiple awards for its accommodation as well as its food and beverage and gardens. 

The hotel boasts charming original features and beautifully finished interiors. The Cary Arms has a total of 18 sea-facing rooms as well as a number of well-designed public areas including the restaurant and luxury spa. Also included is the adjacent fully-restored 4-bedroom Beach cottage.

In addition to the main hotel offering, a collection of charming sea view cottages, perfectly suited for extended stays or additional revenue streams, is available by separate negotiation.

Lana de Savary said: “The Cary Arms has been a true passion project for us. It has been an honour to restore and re-imagine such a breathtaking and unique seaside property. This feels like the right moment to step back and allow new owners to take it to even greater heights.”

The freehold for Cary Arms Hotel & Spa and Beach cottage is being offered for sale through Knight Frank LLP with a guide price of £4,500,000 and all enquiries to be directed to Matthew Smith, Partner in the  Knight Frank Hotel Agency team.