Cheltenham care home consolidation in latest acquisition

Crowe Clark Whitehill corporate finance partner Andy Kay

Royal Court Care has been acquired by Lilian Faithfull Homes, the Cheltenham-based charity which owns and operates four care homes in the town.

The deal is likely to be the first of several planned by Lilian Faithful Homes (LFH), a client of the Cheltenham office of national audit, tax and advisory firm Crowe Clark Whitehill.

This first acquisition was brokered by corporate finance partner Andy Kay and his team who helped identify Royal Court Care as a target.

He said: “Both Royal Court Care and Lilian Faithfull Homes are based in Cheltenham and our role for LFH is to research the market, identify targets, approach and negotiate with them and advise on any subsequent deal.”

Lilian Faithfull Homes celebrated its 70 anniversary this year and is named after the founder who was a pioneer in education and social change. In 1947 the organisation she had helped establish the previous year, Cheltenham Old People’s Housing Society, purchased its first property to provide care for 12 ladies.

On her death at the age of 87 in Faithfull House in 1952, the committee decided to rename the organisation Lilian Faithfull Homes in honour of her.

Now LFH, with the addition of Royal Court Care Home, has five properties in Cheltenham, including care homes Astell House, Faithfull House and St Faith’s, and nursing care home Dowty House.

Martin Hughes, chief executive of LFH, said: “We are now one of the largest providers of adult social care in Gloucestershire and as our founder would wish – we want to do more.

“With the considerable assistance from the team at Crowe Clark Whitehill who were instrumental in advising the charity, with their help we have plans to grow further.”

The deal value has not been disclosed. Lilian Faithfull Homes was advised by Jo Bewley and Adam Kean at BPE Solicitors in Cheltenham.