Milebrook House Hotel: New owners boosted by £380,000 Natwest loan

After spending a night in the Milebrook House Hotel, James Sheehan and Zoe Carter, who both worked in the marketing and advertising industry, loved the venue so much they embarked on a plan to purchase the space and build up the business.

Thanks to the funding from NatWest, within just 18 months, the couple were able to take ownership of the hotel and implement their ambitious plans to transform the historic property into a thriving business

James and Zoe have already recruited an extra two members of staff and invested in state-of-the-art kitchen facilities, to ensure the hotel continues to deliver a fantastic dining experience for its guests. There are also plans to upgrade the communal bar, lounge, garden areas and bedrooms over the next year.

Milebrook House, is a popular hotel of choice for celebrities such as Mick Jagger and David Beckham. Located in Powys, by the River Teme, the 10-bedroom hotel has capacity for up to 22 guests.

James said: “We had a great life in London but after staying at the hotel during a visit to Zoe’s mum who lives nearby, we both fell in love with the place and couldn’t stop thinking about it.

“Neither of us have ever worked in this industry before so we are completely new to this, but absolutely loving it. Our main focus at the moment is rebranding and refreshing the property to make the most of the beautiful space.

“We couldn’t have made the move without the funding and support from NatWest and are very grateful that they have helped us in following our dreams.”

Katie Baker, relationship manager at NatWest, said: “James and Zoe impressed us immediately, not just with their business plans, but their passion to own a successful hotel business, despite never having done so before. They are incredibly determined and hardworking and it’s great to see that the funding we have provided has helped turned their dream into a reality. We wish them both the best of luck.”