Swan Hotel in Bradford on Avon faces uncertain future after closure

James Sullivan-Tailyour, the outgoing manager of the 12-bedroomed Swan Hotel in Bradford on Avon, says he expects it to stay closed for the foreseeable future because it needs massive investment.

The 62-year-old hotelier James Sullivan-Tailyour closed its doors for the last time when he left on September 20 after cleaning and tidying up.

Mr Sullivan-Tailyour had run the Grade II* listed hotel in Church Street for the past 11 years since taking it on in February 2012.

He has since let go all but one of the seven staff and has installed security fencing in hotel’s car park at the rear.

The Swan Hotel in Bradford on Avon is now closed for the foreseeable future while Greene King finds a new leaseholder. Photo: Trevor Porter 70189-2 (Image: Trevor Porter 70189-2)

The Swan Hotel is owned by the Bury St Edmund-based Greene King Brewery, which wanted him to invest more than £200,000 into the building.

After months of negotiations, Mr Sullivan-Tailyour decided he would not be able to recoup the investment by signing another ten-year lease to manage the hotel.

He has decided instead to focus his Wiltshire Inns business on the 16-bedroomed Old Bell Hotel in Warminster.

James Sullivan-Tailyour is now managing The Old Bell Hotel in Warminster. Photo: John Baker (Image: Trevor Porter)

 He began his 45-year career in the hospitality industry in 1978 as a barman at the 14th century coaching inn in the Market Place in Warminster.

Mr Sullivan-Tailyour said: “After 11 years as custodian of The Swan it is a shame to let it go. However, it is just not viable as a business any longer.

“Currently, the Swan Hotel is closed and we expect it to be closed for the foreseeable future.

“As far as I am aware, Greene King has still to decide whether to keep the business and renovate it themselves or to sell it. Either way, I don’t think that it is going to happen in the next month or two.”

Mr Sullivan-Tailyour said he had decided not to sign a new lease on The Swan Hotel after months of negotiations over contract terms and conditions.

Greene King had asked him for a huge investment of £200,000 to renovate parts of the building and he decided it was not financially viable to do so.

Describing The Swan Hotel as an important asset to Bradford on Avon, Mr Sullivan-Tailyour said it would benefit the town to keep it open.

“I was proud to be a custodian and to be a hub for the community. I feel honoured to have been in that position and to have looked after the building for the past 11 years.

“But I’m not sad about having to leave. Talking with my business head-on, it was the right thing to do.

“I suspect that it will rise phoenix-like from the ashes and that it has a bright future. I hope that someone who has deep pockets will renovate it into something special.

“I am sure that whatever anybody does, it will be to the benefit of Bradford on Avon. I feel very confident that the right thing will happen to the building.”

A Greene King spokesperson said: “We would like to thank Mr Sullivan-Tailyour for the many years he leased the Swan Hotel and we wish him all the best for his future ventures.

“We are now beginning to review our options for the hotel, which is likely to take some time given it is a Grade-II* listed building that is in need of significant repair and investment.

“This will be a detailed process to ensure we make the right decision for the hotel’s future while keeping in mind the best interests of the community.”