Ogier Leman advises Press Up Hospitality Group on purchase of Butler Arms Hotel

Ogier Leman has acted for Press Up Hospitality Group in its successful acquisition of the iconic Butler Arms Hotel in Waterville, Co Kerry, on the west coast of Ireland.

Press Up, which is part of Irish businessman Paddy McKillen Jr's McKillen Group, is a long-standing client of Ogier Leman. The firm has assisted Press Up on a number of transactions since the group’s establishment in 2009. 

Ogier Leman’s Real Estate and Corporate teams acted for the acquirer of the entire issued share capital of The Butler Arms Hotel Limited, from the selling shareholders, which involved the acquisition of the hotel property.

The team was led by practice partner/head of Real Estate John Hogan, with Corporate associate Sharon Meaney, and trainee solicitor Feidhlim Seoige, from the Real Estate department.

John said: “We are delighted to have assisted the McKillen Group in negotiating the acquisition of the Butler Arms. Dealing with a family business that has been owned for generations always presents sensitive challenges and we appreciated all the teamwork from the vendors, their advisors and our clients in smoothing through the challenges. I'm excited to see the future plans for this wonderful hotel.”

Press Up is Ireland’s leading leisure and entertainment group operating across a variety of sectors, including restaurants, bars, hotels and high-end cinemas. Press Up features a growing portfolio of more than 40 venues in Ireland and employs over 1500 people.

The purchase is the fourth hotel Press Up now owns outside of the Irish capital, where the group has an extensive hospitality portfolio. It also owns The Dean hotels in Co Cork and Co Galway, and Glasson Lakehouse in Co Westmeath, which it purchased in 2020.

The Butler Arms Hotel has hosted many famous guests over the years, including Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney and legendary financier JP Morgan. More recently, the cast and crew of the Star Wars movies The Last Jedi and The Force Awakens stayed in the hotel in 2014 and 2015 during filming on Skellig Michael.

In a statement, Press Up said: "Press Up Hospitality Group have confirmed the purchase of The Butler Arms Hotel in Waterville, Co Kerry. Located on the seafront in the picturesque Waterville Village on the Ring of Kerry coastline. The 60-bedroom hotel has been in operation for over 100 years under four generations of the Huggard family, who recently made the decision to sell the property. It will be business as usual under the new ownership, with no closures planned and no impact to the current employees.”