The FINANCIAL -- Triple Catey winners Ian and Christa Taylor have bought the 60-bedroom Abbey hotel in Bath and have plans to transform the three-star property into a mid-market boutique offering, according to Caterer and Hotelkeeper.

The hotel - one of the oldest in Bath - has been acquired from Compass Hotels, which has run the Abbey for 23 years under the Best Western brand. Averaging a year-round occupancy of 80%, the hotel will continue to be marketed by Best Western.

The Taylors, who sold their award-winning hotels Cotswold House and the Noel Arms in Chipping Campden in 2007, will undertake a three-year modernisation programme of the hotel, starting with improvements to the terrace area.

Further works are planned this year to transform the restaurant and the ground floor of the property, followed by a full refurbishment of the hotel's 60 bedrooms. The new owners, who have bought the Abbey with support from Barclays Corporate, have pledged to play an active role in the local community to help strengthen Bath's tourist offer.

The Taylors won three Cateys - Independent Hotel of the Year in 2005 and Best Independent Marketing Campaign in 2005 and 2007 - after successfully transforming Cotswold House into a luxury boutique hotel.

The sale of the Abbey hotel was marketed by Christie & Co.

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