The Angel Hotel Has New Owners: What's Changing and What's Staying the Same
If you've walked past the Angel Hotel recently, you might have heard the rumours. New owners are coming in. The cafe might change. Nobody quite knows what's happening. I spoke to the new owners this week, and I can tell you: the Angel isn't going anywhere. But it is getting a fresh start.
Who's taking over?
The Santos family are the Angel's new owners. If the name sounds familiar, it should. They've run the printing business in town for 14 years, first on Abbey Road, now in the centre. They've been in Bourne for over two decades.
This isn't a faceless company from out of town. It's a local family who moved here from London for the same reasons many of us did: affordable housing, good schools, a quieter life.
The hotel will be renamed The Angel by Santos. They wanted to add their identity while keeping the building's character intact. That feels like the right balance.
Why the Angel?
The Angel sits right next door to their print shop, and they'd always admired the building.
"I always wanted to manage a cafe," the new owner, Nayara, told me. "I wanted something for me, because I always worked with my husband in the print business. This time, I wanted to do something different."
Her daughter Sarah, now an adult, will help run the hotel. It's a family affair - and a chance for the next generation to learn how a business works from the inside.
What's happening to the building?
The good news: it's in excellent condition. The previous owners left it well maintained, so there's no major refurbishment needed before opening.
The family plans to make changes slowly. Room by room, they'll update bathrooms and freshen things up. But they're not gutting the place or stripping out the character. The beams, the cobbled alleyway, the old coaching inn atmosphere. All of that stays.
"I think the history, the character, the feel it gives is really, really nice for the town," she said. "I don't want to let that go."
When does it reopen?
The Angel opens to the general public on Saturday 7th November. They'll keep the same room service standards the Angel has always had, so if you've stayed before, you'll recognise the experience.
For all the latest on the hotel, cafe, restaurant, function room and upcoming events, head to bysantos.com. You'll find links to their social media there too.
What's changing in the cafe?
This is where the Santos family want to put their stamp.
The menu will change, with more variety and more options. The aim is to attract a wider crowd. The Angel has traditionally drawn an older clientele, and that's fine. But the new owners want families in there too, and younger visitors.
"We want to get this vibe for everyone," she said. "For every age group."
The first addition will be afternoon teas. After that, they're hoping to introduce cocktail and tapas nights. It's a sign of where they want to take things.
What about the function room?
The function room will soon be available for bookings. With the Christmas period approaching, it's worth keeping an eye on bysantos.com for news.
Should regulars be worried?
Apparently, some are. The family told me they've heard rumours that regulars are nervous about what's coming.
I'd say there's no need. This isn't a chain taking over and ripping out the character. It's a local family who care about the building's history and want to keep it as a landmark for the town.
The owner told me the family came here to work and build a better life, and the hotel is a big part of that. "For us, this is something big," she said. "We want to do good. We want to keep things working well for the town."
Her daughter Sarah put it simply: "Supporting local businesses is always key. We want to bring more movement to the town."
If anything, the regulars might find more reasons to visit, not fewer.
What do they love most about the building?
The outside. The alleyway, the porch, the old entrance where you can almost imagine horses pulling up on the coaching route from London to the north.
"I can imagine people coming from London and keeping the horses here," she said. "Staying, relaxing, going further north. I think it's really, really nice to imagine that."
That sense of history matters to them. It's why they're preserving the character rather than modernising everything at once.
The details
- New name: The Angel by Santos
- Opens to the public: Saturday 7th November
- Function room: Available for bookings soon
- First additions: Afternoon teas, then hopefully cocktail and tapas nights
- Updates and social media: bysantos.com
- Contact: theangel@bysantos.com