The £1 Hotel Deal That Shocked Property Experts

Photo Credit: Samuel Leeds

When property entrepreneur Samuel Leeds revealed he had bought a 26-bedroom hotel for just £1, few believed it was real. But for Leeds, who has been investing in property since 2009, the deal represented everything he teaches: creative thinking, bold negotiation, and smart risk-taking.

Willingham House, a Victorian mansion in Cambridgeshire, was secured by Leeds on a ten-year option with a £1 deposit. He then transformed the building into a boutique hotel that is now attracting guests from across the country. In its best month to date, the hotel turned over more than £83,000.

 “It was a strategic move,” says Leeds. “I wanted to prove you can do deals that defy convention. Everyone says it’s impossible until someone does it. I did it.”

The hotel, managed by Leeds’s team, has already become a local success story. Renovations have been carried out with care to preserve the heritage character of the building while modernising it for the hospitality market. With strong reviews and repeat bookings, it is expected to reach an annual turnover of around £1 million within the next year.

Leeds’s creative approach to financing is part of what has made him one of Britain’s most talked-about property investors. His story was recently documented in Coming Clean, a feature-length documentary that premiered at Cineworld O2 in London. The film followed Leeds as he toured his entire portfolio, showing students the paperwork, title deeds, and the highs and lows of building wealth over nearly two decades.

The documentary, which has since been released on YouTube, gave viewers an inside look at Leeds’s methods and mindset. For many of his students, it was proof that his strategies are not only possible but practical. “People often think property success is about luck,” he says. “It’s about strategy, negotiation, and persistence.”

Leeds also revealed that his training company has been independently audited by research firm Survation, which found that 86% of academy graduates had completed a property deal within their first year, with 95% saying they would recommend the academy to a friend.

Asked about the £1 deal, Leeds smiles. “I did it partly for the story, but mainly to make a point. People talk about how hard property is, but I’ve shown that if you think differently, you can find opportunities where others see obstacles.”