The Coaching Inn Group has been named Hotel Group of the Year in the large hotel chains category by consumer champion Which?, marking a major milestone for the premium rooms business owned by RedCat Hospitality, and a powerful endorsement of its strategic focus on accommodation.
The accolade reflects the group’s commitment to delivering high-quality, experience-led stays in historic inns across the UK. With more than 1,000 rooms across 35 properties, Coaching Inn Group blends heritage charm with modern comfort – a proposition that continues to resonate with guests and drive commercial success.
The Which? Recommended Provider status is based on customer score and other criteria, including overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend. Coaching Inn Group achieved a score of 81%, topping the table in the large hotel chains category, which is defined as ‘groups with more than 30 hotels worldwide’.
This recognition follows a record-breaking summer for the group. From June to August 2025, total sales rose 8.0% year-on-year, with like-for-like growth of 7.5%. Over two years, sales have increased by 17.9%, underlining the sustained momentum across the estate.
Accommodation performance was particularly strong, with RevPAR up 9.7%, ADR up 10.4%, and average length of stay increasing by 20%. These results were driven by strategic efforts to optimise rate, protect weekend demand, and introduce value-led packages – supported by a strengthened Revenue Management team and targeted marketing. The group broke its previous best week record six times in nine weeks.
Founded in 1996 by Kevin Charity and now led by his son Adam Charity, the Coaching Inn Group remains a proud enterprise with a clear mission, to breathe new life into Britain’s historic inns and hotels. Imagine the click-clack of carriage wheels once approaching these timeless establishments; today, modern comfort welcomes travellers while preserving the charm that captivated their predecessors. From humble beginnings in Boston, Lincolnshire, the Group now operates 36 distinctive properties across the UK. Each has been meticulously restored, honouring original features like oak beams and sash windows, while seamlessly blending 21st-century comfort.
The Coaching Inn Group was acquired by RedCat Hospitality in 2021.
At its heart lies the Group’s enduring ethos: “Hospitality from the Heart.” More than a phrase, it reflects a genuine commitment to people, teams treated as family, communities as partners, and guests as old friends. Recognition followed: winner of UK’s Best Accommodation Operator at the 2025 Publican Awards, WHICH? Best Small Hotel Group 2024/25, Best Large Hotel Group 25/26, and ranked among the Top UK Employers. In essence, the Coaching Inn Group invites you on a journey where tradition, warmth, and thoughtful hospitality never go out of style.
Adam Charity, Chief Operating Officer at The Coaching Inn Group, comments: “We’re incredibly proud to be named Hotel Chain of the Year by Which?. Our ethos has always been to unlock the potential of locations, blending heritage and charm with modern luxury to create unique and memorable stays. Our inns are rooted in local communities and designed to offer hospitality from the heart, and it’s fantastic to see that recognised by guests themselves.”
Site-level performance further illustrates the strength of the group’s accommodation offering. The Castle of Brecon Hotel delivered a 94.3% uplift in sales following a £3 million refurbishment. The Jamaica Inn generated £662,000 in summer sales, driven by its iconic location on the tourist route to Devon and Cornwall. Meanwhile, The Bell in Stilton saw sales rise 30.2% year-on-year, with F&B revenue up 38.9%, supported by 2 AA Rosettes and a No.1 TripAdvisor ranking in Peterborough.
The Which? accolade reinforces Coaching Inn Group’s position as a leader in the domestic leisure market, highlighting the resilience and relevance of its accommodation offering in a competitive landscape.
Richard Lewis, CEO of RedCat Hospitality, adds: “This recognition is a powerful endorsement of our strategy. We’ve invested in our rooms business, strengthened our revenue management capabilities, and focused on delivering exceptional guest experiences. The Coaching Inn Group continues to lead the way, and its success is a clear signal of the opportunity that lies ahead.”
Looking ahead, RedCat Hospitality plans to continue expanding The Coaching Inn Group, with a strong pipeline of acquisitions and refurbishments, and a centralised team supporting bookings, partnerships and technology optimisation – all designed to propel the group’s performance into 2026 and beyond.
