An award-winning family of hoteliers from Staffordshire have snapped up the Best Western Penmere Manor hotel in Cornwall off a guide price of £2.95m.
The landmark site sits in five acres of grounds one mile from the historic port of Falmouth.
The main Georgian building was constructed in 1825 and was first occupied by Captain John Bullock of the Falmouth Packet Service. It has served as a hotel since 1958.
Along with 37 en-suite bedrooms, the 50-seat Manor restaurant and the 24-seat Terrace lounge, the hotel offers a number of multi-purpose rooms that are used for dining, conferences and functions.
They include the 30-seat Passingham Room, the 18-seat library and the 14-seat boardroom.
Outside facilities include the Garden Terrace, which commands views over the croquet lawn to the sea; a leisure club with an indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, exercise area and gym; and an outdoor swimming pool in an ancient walled garden.
New owners Brian, Jeanne, Nick and Tania Moore previously owned Dovecliff Hall hotel in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, where they increased bedroom numbers from six to 17 and doubled the size of the restaurant.
The business, a former Staffordshire Restaurant of the Year, includes Michael Winner, Tony Blair and John Prescott among its fans.
The Exeter office of Christie & Co sold the freehold on Penmere Manor on behalf of Paul and Hilary Terzeon.
By Angela Frewin