Coffer Corporate Leisure has advised Moorfield on the acquisition of three Swallow Hotels. Following the company’s collapse in September 2006, the original 13 Swallow-branded hotels came to the market discreetly in August 2007. Linking up with experienced hotel portfolio investor Moorfield, Barber set about evaluating all acquisition and re-branding opportunities.

Following detailed due diligence and appraisal, Moorfield selected three assets to buy out of the portfolio: the St. George Hotel in Harrogate (90 bedrooms), the Eden Arms in Rushyford, County Durham (45) and The George Hotel near Hexham, Northumberland (47), in July 2008. Barber said: “The three hotels are all historic, destination businesses, in attractive locations. The George for example enjoys a riverside position close to Hadrians Wall; they are therefore an excellent fit for branding within Moorfield’s Shearings Holidays portfolio, in which they will also enjoy planned investment programmes.<"/p>