The owner of the Kirkgate House Hotel in Thirsk is hoping to hand over the keys to new owners in order to enjoy his retirement as a guest in other B&Bs across the UK.
Geoffrey Dixon, 72, who has owned the hotel since 2008, is selling up with Hilton Smythe, and looking for younger owners to take over the venue with fresh ideas for a new decade.
With his retirement, Mr Dixon is looking forward to spending more time with his grandchildren in Leeds, and visiting B&Bs in North Wales, the Lake District and Scotland.
Mr Dixon said: “I bought the hotel just over a decade ago with my late wife Julie, because we both loved working in the hospitality sector. We spent around 14 years working in France running gites, and when we decided to come back to the UK to spend more time with our grandchildren, we wanted somewhere nice to live that would bring us an income.
“The family is in Leeds, so God’s own country seemed like the obvious choice.
“My wife passed away five years ago, and it can be quite lonely working seven days a week, even though I have fantastic part time staff helping me out. I think I’m ready now for life as a guest rather than the proprietor.”
The seven-room, three-storey Georgian bed and breakfast is situated on the outskirts of Thirsk, close to The World of James Herriot, and is just over five miles from the North York Moors National Park, which has resulted in many customers visiting multiple times. The business is also very well reviewed on independent websites such as trip advisor and bookings . com.
Gareth Smyth, CEO of Hilton Smythe Group, said: “Hotels are a fantastic investment for people looking to own their own business, because, even in times of economic instability, people still want to have a little break away in beautiful locations like North Yorkshire.
“If you’re a people person, like Mr Dixon, hospitality can be a rewarding career, with many opportunities to make visitors to the region feel welcome. We hope that the next owners of the Kirkgate House Hotel make as many happy memories there as its previous owners.”
Mr Dixon added: “Matthew from Hilton Smythe has been incredibly helpful already in getting the old place on the market. I’ll be sure to send him a postcard from my travels!”
Kirkgate House Hotel is on the market for £499,999 +SAV (Stock At Value).
