CHESTER’S Sykes Holiday Cottages has further enhanced its portfolio of properties in Suffolk by acquiring regional specialist, Best of Suffolk.

The deal, which has been completed for an undisclosed sum, adds a further 400 properties to Sykes Holiday Cottages’ portfolio of almost 20,000 holiday cottages across the UK, Ireland and New Zealand.

It means Sykes Holiday Cottages can now offer customers an even broader range of properties and availability across the Suffolk coast, the Brecks and throughout Constable country.

Best of Suffolk, which was founded 15 years ago by husband-and-wife team, Alex and Naomi Tarry, will continue to operate under its own brand, supported by its team of nine employees based in Badingham, near Framlingham.

Graham Donoghue, chief executive of Sykes Holiday Cottages, said: “Like Sykes, the emphasis at Best of Suffolk has always been on providing wonderful holidays with high-quality customer service.

“This deal will enable the business to continue to grow with those principles at its heart, while also allowing us to bring all that this beautiful part of the country to offer to a much broader audience of holidaymakers.”

Alex and Naomi Tarry will step down from the business to pursue other adventures.

Alex said: “Stepping down after 15 years has been a difficult decision to make, but we are sure that our team, our property owners and our guests will be in good hands with Sykes Holiday Cottages.”

Founded nearly 30 years ago, Sykes is also one of the best-known travel brands, having won the British Travel Award for Best Large Holiday Cottage Booking Company for eight consecutive years.

It was advised by Springboard Corporate Finance and Hill Dickinson LLP.