MACDONALD Hotels is selling 27 of its properties - including ones in Marlow, Windsor and Ascot - to a private equity player in a blockbuster deal.

They are set to change hands in a bid to clear Macdonald Hotels’ bank debt of nearly £190 million and is expected to be concluded by the end of August.

Macdonald Compleat Angler, Marlow, Macdonald Windsor Hotel, West Berkshire and Macdonald Berystede Hotel & Spa, in Ascot are among those to be sold. 

The Scottish hotels group, the vast majority of which is owned by 72-year-old industry veteran Donald Macdonald and his family, had total debt in excess of £700 million more than 10 years ago, according to reports from the Bucks Free Press' sister title The Herald. 

The preferred bidder, described as a “major private equity and real estate investor” without hotel interests at the moment, is not being named at this stage by Macdonald Hotels.

The price being paid for the 27 hotels is not being disclosed.