Apex Hotels buys Meldrum House Hotel as group expands
Family-owned Apex Hotels has completed the acquisition of Meldrum House Country Hotel and Golf Course in Aberdeenshire. This is the group’s second rural property following the purchase of Pine Trees in July 2023 and is the 10th hotel within its UK wide portfolio.
Meldrum House is a stunning 51 bedroom 4-star country house hotel comprising of a 13th century manor house and golf course, set in 250 acres of Aberdeenshire countryside. Privately owned by Aberdeenshire businessmen Bob Edwards, Terry and David Buchan, the hotel has won a range of prestigious awards including The Times’ Top 100 UK Hotels and Best Hotel at Visit Scotland’s Scottish Thistle Awards.
The purchase of Meldrum House demonstrates Apex Hotels’ continued strategy to grow and diversify its portfolio with new hotels in rural locations. The acquisition follows another strong financial year for the group, supported by a £60 million refinancing package with Barclays.
Apex Hotels Chief Executive Officer Angela Vickers said: “The acquisition of Meldrum House Country Hotel represents an opportunity to continue to diversify the Apex Hotels portfolio, giving our guests even more choice of a city or more relaxed rural option.
This is an exciting time for Apex, and after getting to know the team at Meldrum House, it was clear they share the same vision and ambitions we have at Apex Hotels. Meldrum House will be one of our flagship hotels and we are delighted to be the next custodians of this historic property.”
Bob Edwards commented; “After 31 years of owning Meldrum House with David and Terry Buchan, it is the perfect time to hand over the reins for a new chapter, where the hotel and estate will become part of Apex Hotel’s expanding portfolio. As a family owned and run business, we are delighted that the Springford family have the same principles and passion for what we have created and together with Dave and Terry Buchan, I wish them the very best for the next 30 years of Meldrum.”
ABOUT MELDRUM HOUSE
Meldrum House Country Hotel and Golf Course Meldrum House Country Hotel and Golf Course is an award-winning 4-star hotel, only 20 minutes from Aberdeen city centre, set in 240-acres of Aberdeenshire countryside. Their Knights Golf Course ranks in the Top 100 golf courses in Scotland by Golf World.
Bob Edwards, together with brothers David and Terry Buchan, bought the hotel and estate back in 1993. The Knights Golf Course then opened in 1998 and celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, hosting the Scottish Men’s Amateur Championship. A multi-million refurbishment in 2009 elevated the hotel’s status and in 2016 further major investment created more bedrooms and a ballroom for up to 200 guests.
Notably, the hotel has won a plethora of awards including a Visit Scotland Scottish Thistle for ‘Best Hotel’ as well as being named as one of The Times Top 100 UK hotels. It also claimed a prestigious industry Catey Award for ‘Best Marketing Campaign’ in front of industry leaders in London, for their luxury dining domes which were launched in July 2020.
