History of Paten Hotels
Paten & Co was established in 1898 by Alfred John Paten, who set up a Wine Merchant business as a Sole Trader in Peterborough, following in the footsteps of his mother's family business 'Bradings Wine Merchants'.
In 1916, Paten & Co, the Beer Bottlers, Publicans and Wine Merchants became Hoteliers when Alfred John Paten leased the Bull Hotel in Peterborough and bought the Swan Hotel in Bedford, which remains an asset of the company to this day.
Alfred John Paten died in April 1950 leaving control of the business to his eldest son Harry Paten, who had been working in the business since 1926.
Harry Paten continued to expand the business in the Wine Merchant and Beer Bottling fields acquiring pubs, an off license and the company's current headquarters in Peterborough in 1962.
In March 1967, Michael Padley, son in law of Harry Paten became Managing Director, two years before Harry Paten died in November 1969.
During the 1970's the stock of hotels was steadily altered, with the smaller hotels in the portfolio being replaced with larger ones, during which time, in 1977 the Marks Tey Hotel was purchased.
The Grosvenor Hotel was acquired in 1996, followed by the Langstone Hotel in 2000.