Westfort Arranges Funding to Support £25m Redevelopment of Landmark Grade II listed Cotswolds Hotel

• Structured senior debt facility to support refinance and redevelopment of Dumbleton Hall Hotel
• 34-bed Grade II* listed hotel in Evesham, The Cotswolds
• US-based borrower with deep development experience
• Hotel to reopen under management of Bespoke Hotels in late 2025

London, 23^rd July 2025 Ortus Secured Finance (Ortus) is pleased to announce a significant loan to support the refinance and redevelopment of Dumbleton Hall Hotel, a Grade II* listed country house hotel within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Dumbleton Hall Hotel is owned by Chatham Park Development, a US-based development firm who acquired the hotel in April 2021. Chatham Park Development was advised on the financing by Westfort Advisors. Legal advice on the transaction was provided by Stevens & Bolton LLP.

The facility refinances an existing lender and supports the completion of extensive renovation and repositioning works. The historic 34-bed property, which sits in 15.8 acres of parkland near Evesham, is undergoing a multi-million-pound transformation to become a premium hospitality destination. Practical completion is expected in Q3 2025, and once complete, it will be operated by Bespoke Hotels.

Led by Jamie Russell, Director, at Ortus, the transaction reflects Ortus’ ability to structure sophisticated, projection-led facilities for high-value hospitality assets and support experienced developers through transitional phases. Chatham Park Development plans to expand the hotel further in 2026, with the addition of 20 woodland lodges nestled into the Estate’s picturesque grounds.

Jamie Russell, Director at Ortus Secured Finance, commented:

“This is exactly the kind of complex operational real estate transaction Ortus excels at. We were impressed by the borrower’s commitment to the scheme, their track record, and the level of progress already made. The structure ensures alignment on every drawdown and gives us strong visibility on the delivery path. We look forward to seeing Dumbleton Hall re-emerge as a high-quality destination hotel in a resilient UK leisure market. While we are not usually known for development and refurbishment projects, given the strength of the borrower and asset, we are pleased to support Chatham Park Development and expand our portfolio.”

Deepak Drubhra, Co-Founder of Westfort Advisors commented:

“This transaction presented several structural challenges – most notably the listed status of the asset and the need to refinance part-way through the development phase. Working closely with Ortus, we were able to agree a funding structure that balanced development risk and significantly improved the sponsor’s return on capital. Ortus’ pragmatic, solutions-led approach and ability to underwrite complexity were instrumental in closing the deal efficiently.”

Robin Sheppard, President of Bespoke Hotels, added:

“Dumbleton Hall is a truly special property in one of the UK’s most iconic destinations. We’re delighted to be returning as operator and look forward to unveiling the next chapter in its storied history. Ortus’ commitment to seeing the redevelopment through has been instrumental in bringing this project to life.”

The transaction follows a series of high-profile commercial deals by Ortus in the hotel, care home and mixed-use sectors, reinforcing its reputation as a reliable and agile lender for complex real estate scenarios and reinforcing its presence in the hotel, care home and mixed-use sectors.