A top Suffolk hotel where Queen Elizabeth I once held court and which has hosted guests in modern times such as Enid Blyton, Margaret Thatcher and Ed Sheeran, has been sold to new owners in a deal worth around £4.1million.

East Anglian Daily Times: Tammy Madge and Michael Chittenden, new owners of the Seckford Hall Hotel, at The Woodhall Manor Theatre Night Dinner. Picture: DAVID GARRADTammy Madge and Michael Chittenden, new owners of the Seckford Hall Hotel, at The Woodhall Manor Theatre Night Dinner. Picture: DAVID GARRAD (Image: Archant)

Colliers International acted for the owners of the 15th Century Grade II listed Seckford Hall Hotel in Woodbridge to sell the property to entrepreneurs Michael Chittenden and Tammy Madge.

Mr Chittenden, who lived locally earlier in his life, is also the owner of nearby Woodhall Manor, near Sutton, as well as another prestigious exclusive use venue in Cheltenham, along with a number of other properties and regeneration sites.

On buying Seckford Hall, he said: “This is very much a dream come true for me. This was where my parents brought me for special occasions when I was a boy – it was always THE place to go.

“There is a considerable amount of investment needed to upgrade the hotel as it was only partly renovated. We will be investing in those areas to bring the property up to date whilst being sensitive to its history.

East Anglian Daily Times: Seckford Hall Hotel. Picture: COLLIERS INTERNATIONALSeckford Hall Hotel. Picture: COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL (Image: Archant)

“We will endeavour to make Seckford Hall the place of choice once again by offering good food, fun quirky spaces and importantly, family friendly. Like with all our venues, customer experience is very important and at the centre of all we do.

“We like to think we sell ‘moments that matter’. We will be spending considerable time training the current team with this in mind as well as deploying extensive recruitment campaigns.

“This is such a fabulous property – steeped in history and an architectural gem. Small but important changes will soon make it one of the top hotels and event venues in this part of the UK.”

The historic country house hotel has furniture which can be traced to Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, is set in 10 acres, with 32 en-suite bedrooms and a restaurant with room for 80 diners, together with multi-function events rooms, a beauty treatment spa and heated pool.

East Anglian Daily Times: EADT NEWS London, UK The exclusive Tudor country house hotel Seckford Hall in Woodbridge, Suffolk has come to the market through Knight Franks hotels team. The 32 en suite bedroom country house hotel was purchased in 1951 by the Bunn family and has remained in the same private hands ever since. The sale is the first time that it has been offered to the market in more than 50 years. PICTURE CONTRIBUTED 30/6/08EADT NEWS London, UK The exclusive Tudor country house hotel Seckford Hall in Woodbridge, Suffolk has come to the market through Knight Franks hotels team. The 32 en suite bedroom country house hotel was purchased in 1951 by the Bunn family and has remained in the same private hands ever since. The sale is the first time that it has been offered to the market in more than 50 years. PICTURE CONTRIBUTED 30/6/08 (Image: Archant)

Paul Barrasford, director in Hotels Agency at Colliers International said: “Hotels lead the way amongst the alternative investment sector. Despite some economic uncertainty, there are plenty of strong operators and product offerings that continue to deliver great returns to their owners and attract new ones to the sector.”