business

Blacks Solicitors Scores A Try With The Sale Of Red Hall House

(L-R) Clare Balding MBE (RFL President), Ralph Rimmer (RFL CEO), and Mike Smith (RFL Vice President)

The Rugby Football League (RFL) has announced the sale of its head office, Red Hall House, near Roundhay Park in Leeds, after 26 years at the premises.

Red Hall House was purchased for over £1.65m by Dr Faisal Arshad, Lead Surgeon at the Hair Dr Hair Transplant Clinic, in order to establish a private cosmetic surgery hospital.

On purchasing the premises, Dr Arshad commented: “The Hair Dr Clinic is expanding quickly and we have outgrown our current premises. The majestic Grade II Red Hall, close to the new East Leeds Orbital Route, is absolutely perfect and it is humbling to be moving into such a magnificent building with such an illustrious history.”

The Commercial Property team at Blacks Solicitors advised the RFL on the sale of its head office ahead of a relocation to Sport City at the Etihad Campus in Manchester. Blacks was chosen thanks to the longstanding relationship with the RFL, and the excellent service provided by the Commercial Property team.

Global property consultancy Knight Frank advised the RFL in relation to the disposal of the property.

The RFL is the national governing body for Rugby League in the UK. It is committed to developing and growing Rugby League at all levels. It administers a number of leagues including the England Rugby League teams, the Great Britain Rugby League Lions team, the Betfred Challenge Cup and Women's Challenge Cup, and the Betfred Women’s Super League.

The RFL works in partnership with leagues, clubs and Rugby League Foundations to inspire and develop the next generation of young players and fans.

Tony Sutton, the RFL’s Chief Operating Officer,, commented: “This is a significant day for the RFL, after more than two and a half decades at Red Hall - which has been a distinctive headquarters for a National Governing Body since the RFL moved from Chapeltown Road in 1995.

“This move to the Etihad Campus will mark an exciting new era for the RFL, and we are grateful to Matthew and the Commercial Property team at Blacks Solicitors, Jonathan and his team at Knight Frank, and to Dr Faisal Arshad for a smooth and professional process.”

Led by Matthew Hutchinson, who was assisted by Claudia Willard, the team at Blacks provided the RFL with swift commercial property advice, enabling the exchange of the premises to take place within 72 hours of terms being agreed with the buyer.

Matthew Hutchinson

Matthew Hutchinson, a Partner in the Commercial Property team at Blacks Solicitors, added: “We’re really pleased to have been able to support the RFL on the first stage of their relocation. The team worked hard to ensure the sale of Red Hall House ran smoothly and was able to complete promptly. We’re looking forward to seeing the new headquarters of the RFL and supporting them in the future.”

Jonathan Hyland, Partner at Knight Frank, said: “Knight Frank are absolutely delighted to have successfully marketed and sold Red Hall House on behalf of the Rugby Football League. Not surprisingly, there was a good deal of interest in this iconic building, but we believe the eventual purchaser, Dr Faisal Arshad, is best placed to breathe fresh life into Red Hall. His plans to transform the building into a pioneering private hospital are tremendously exciting and we wish him the very best of luck.”