The Wiltshire sold in seven figure deal

Eddy Shah has sold his last golf course in what is believed to be one of the industry’s most expensive transactions in recent years.

The Peter Alliss-designed The Wiltshire Hotel, Golf & Country Club at Royal Wootton Bassett has been bought by Wiltshire Leisure & Hospitality (WLHL) for an undisclosed sum. However, it was put up for sale for £3.5 million, and the agent handling the sale hinted that the buying price was in this region.

Shah, the man famous for bringing colour to national newspapers in the 1980s when he owned the Today paper, once owned four prestigious golf clubs and was a director at Wentworth, but has now sold them all. He said he decided to sell his last venue, where his wife was the general manager, because he is now too old to run a golf club that has been hit by the recession and is looking for new members.

Shah also has the distraction of an Old Bailey court case which is due to start soon, in which he faces six counts of raping a girl under 16.

Club members recently gathered at the club to say farewell.

Mr Shah said: “I’m very touched. But I know it really has been something that everybody has done together. The members stuck with me right at the beginning.

“We have created something between the staff and the members and I’m proud of it. I think this is one of the best facilities in the county.

“But it’s been a struggle for three years. We were fortunate we got some very good people to buy it from us, who are I think going to take it on to the next level.

“After 10 years, it needs new impetus. If you keep on running something over and over again, you lose direction, you lose energy.”

The renowned hotel, golf and leisure property and business comprises approximately 200 acres and includes a 27-hole golf course, 58-bedroom hotel, a health and fitness club, a clubhouse and a function suite.

Kay Griffiths, an associate in the Savills leisure team, which handled the sale, commented: “We are extremely pleased with the sale of The Wiltshire to WLHL who we are confident will be able to maximise the opportunities available to this established business and attractive property. Occupying a prime elevated position to the south of Royal Wootton Bassett, The Wiltshire Hotel, Golf & Country Club is a rare investment opportunity in this sector which was highlighted by the interest we received and the price achieved.”