Oldest inn is up for sale

Alan and Georgina Thompson have put their 1,000-year-old hotel and restaurant on the market after achieving their 10-year goal for the property in less than four years.

Australian-born chef Thompson sold his London restaurant, 755, to buy the Royalist hotel in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, in 2000.

After a £2m investment, they reopened the property as a 12-bedroom hotel with a 36-seat restaurant, 947AD, and an adjacent 70-seat food-led pub, the Eagle and Child. "I'm the sort of person who, once I've achieved my goals, wants to move forwards," said Thompson. "I like setting new places up, I do like the adrenalin rush."

Thompson, who also wants to spend more time with his children, remained tight-lipped about future projects, but said they would be within the industry.

The Grade II-listed property, which has three AA stars and rosettes, is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as England's oldest inn.

Christie & Co is seeking offers from £1.85m for the freehold. Jonathon Hill, at the property agent's Bristol office, said the Thompsons had boosted the business from minimal returns to a net turnover and profit of £947,801 and £234,139 in the year to 31 May 2003.