Classic Cottages strengthens Welsh presence with St Davids Escapes acquisition

Classic Cottages, the UK’s largest independent holiday letting specialist, has strengthened its presence in Wales with the acquisition of St Davids Escapes in Pembrokeshire.

The deal, for an undisclosed sum, will bring more than 80 holiday properties on the St Davids Peninsula into the Classic portfolio, taking the total number of properties managed by the company across the UK to around 1,500.

Based in St Davids, St Davids Escapes specialises in hand-picked holiday cottages across North Pembrokeshire, including St Davids, Solva, Abereiddy and Whitesands Bay. The business has built its reputation around local knowledge and personal service, working closely with property owners and offering guests first-hand advice about its cottages and the surrounding area.

The acquisition significantly strengthens Classic Cottages’ presence in Wales and continues the expansion of its nationwide portfolio while maintaining its position as an independently owned holiday letting business.

St Davids Escapes owner Rachael Copley will join Classic Cottages as an Area Manager, and its office in St Davids remains.

Dan Harrison, Commercial Director at Classic Cottages, said: “St Davids Escapes is a really strong fit for Classic. It is a well-established local business with an excellent portfolio of properties, extensive knowledge of the area and the same emphasis on personal service and close relationships with owners that has always been important to us.

“This acquisition gives us a much stronger presence in one of Wales’ best-known holiday destinations and takes the Classic portfolio to around 1,500 properties across the UK.

“Importantly, we are continuing to grow as an independent, family-owned business. We believe there is a real opportunity to combine the local knowledge and relationships that businesses such as St Davids Escapes have built up over many years with the reach, marketing and resources that Classic can provide.”

Rachael Copley, owner of St Davids Escapes, said: “St Davids Escapes has always been about sharing our love and knowledge of this very special part of Pembrokeshire and providing a personal service to our owners and guests.

“Joining Classic Cottages feels like a natural next step because we share the same values and approach. I’m delighted to be staying with the business and working from St Davids, while being able to offer our owners the benefits of Classic’s wider reach, marketing expertise and resources.”

The deal is the latest stage in Classic Cottages’ expansion across the UK. It follows the acquisition of Ocean Cottages in North Devon in May last year, and Norfolk Holiday Homes and Cat Hole Cottages in the Yorkshire Dales in 2024.

Classic Cottages is part of Cornwall-based Sapphire Holidays, an independent, family-owned group of specialist holiday letting businesses which also includes Aspects Holidays, Boutique Retreats, Unique Hideaways, Grandeur Property Management and Island Escapes.

Sapphire Holidays has grown significantly in recent years and now manages more than 2,850 holiday properties across the UK and Crown Dependencies. The group generates in excess of £65 million in annual bookings and employs more than 200 people.

Sapphire Holidays is a certified B Corporation, recognising its commitment to high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.