What We Do
Xenia Venues is buying existing wedding venues in the south of England, to grow a group of exclusive use wedding venues.
We are interested in speaking to wedding venue owners and operators who are considering selling their business as a going concern, either now or in the future.
Why is it important to sell a wedding venue as a going concern?
Whether it is to enjoy retirement, have time to explore new opportunities or release the value built up in a wedding venue, at some point, most venue owners will consider how their team, couples and venue can continue to operate seamlessly without them.
As a venue owner, you have worked hard to build a successful business. You’ll want to know that the next owner has the knowledge, talent and financial resources to look after your business. You’ll need total confidence that your couples and employees will be in the best possible hands, that contracts will be fulfilled, and expectations exceeded.
You’ll perhaps want reassurance that your venue will be enhanced through ongoing investment for future generations to enjoy. If you have strong emotional ties, you’ll want to feel welcome there in the future to celebrate milestone family events.
You’ll want confidence that the transition of ownership can be completed seamlessly and without any concern from your team, couples or suppliers.
You’ll be looking for a future owner that shares your fundamental values and believes in exceptional standards of customer care. Any discussions about a change of ownership will need to be handled with extreme care and discretion in order to preserve existing bookings and employee relationships.
Xenia Venues is quietly building and acquiring wedding venues that adopt these same standards of exceptional customer care. We have a hugely talented team who operate professionally and with complete discretion, enabling you to release your time and equity from your venue smoothly and efficiently.
There’s no right or wrong time to know what your options are, so we’d encourage you to contact us in complete confidence, at the earliest opportunity, to find out more.
What venue owners say about us:
“I first contacted Xenia in Summer 2023 after making the decision to sell our much loved family venue. They responded straightaway. I had a conversation with Alison over the phone and then a face to face meeting to view our venue and wedding business.
From a venue owner's perspective it is a complex sale. Not only the emotion of having built the business, which in our case is decades old but also with bookings stretching a few years into the future. It needs to be handled discreetly and empathetically and from my experience, Xenia excel at this.
Although through the process, we both agreed that our venue didn't quite match their commercial needs, those that do would benefit greatly from working with Xenia Venues.
If you are thinking of selling, I would have no hesitation in contacting Alison to discuss your plans.”
Frequently
Asked Questions
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We are looking for wedding venues that are already successful, as well as residential, farm or equestrian properties that have the potential to be great wedding venues.
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Our venues are primarily aimed towards couples living in the south of England, so we are particularly interested in speaking to venue owners in or near Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire. Surrey, Sussex, Essex, Kent, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, or Somerset.
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No, we buy properties for ourselves, we don’t represent anyone else. We are genuine buyers who know exactly what we are looking for and can quickly tell you if your venue is a match.
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No, we aren’t an estate agency so there are no agency fees, commission or any other costs involved. If you decide to sell, you will of course want to appoint a solicitor and/or accountant in the usual way.
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There are two ways to value a wedding venue. We calculate the value of your venue using both methods and we make an offer based on the higher of the two valuations:
We calculate the value of the wedding business you have built up, by looking at profit. The value is calculated on a multiple of the EBITA value of the wedding venue business. We calculate the residential value of the property, using an estate agent to assess the value if needed, then pay an additional premium to recognise the value of the wedding business you have developed. As the wedding business cannot exist without the venue property, the value of a wedding venue business cannot be calculated by adding both the property value and the business value together. -
There is not a right or wrong time for selling a wedding venue, as the process is aimed to be a seamless transfer of ownership which could, if needed, take place during the wedding season. However, many wedding venue owners prefer to sell their venue during the quieter winter months.
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We do not usually rent or lease venues but will consider a long lease (more than 25 years) for certain heritage properties. We invest a significant amount of money to develop each of our venues to their full potential, so we always prefer a freehold purchase. This also allows you to receive the full value of your property in cash to invest in your next venture or so that you can enjoy retirement.
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Phone or email for a confidential conversation. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain.
CONTACT -
Each case is specific, but in general your team remains employed and will benefit from the career opportunities offered across the Xenia Venues group. Your couples will receive the wedding they had hoped for, in the way you have promised.
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Xenia Venues are owner-operators so we will manage all aspects of the venue. Depending on your input as the current owner we will prepare and implement a leadership structure that best fits the venue, its team and couples.
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We share your need for absolute discretion in order to protect your existing bookings. We will supply a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) at an appropriate point, however, regardless of the NDA, everything you share with us at any stage is treated as confidential.
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James can be contacted at james@xeniavenues.co.uk or by telephone on 07824 886052.
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For Venue Owners
We offer a simple and seamless way to transition a successful wedding business into new ownership and release equity for your own use, while maintaining the value in the relationships, contracts and goodwill you have carefully developed over many years.
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For Couples
We create the perfect setting for your wedding day, using many decades of knowledge and experience in the wedding industry to ensure that we exceed your expectations throughout every moment of your wedding day.
NEXT STEPS
How we help Owners Exit their Business
It is understandable that some wedding venue owners feel trapped within their business. Weddings are booked many months or years in advance and their team and couples may rely on them. Xenia Venues buys and operates existing wedding venues discreetly, without disruption to the team or couples.
For many venue owners, this will be their first experience of selling a business, however we are here to guide them through the process.
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