A THIRTY-ONE bedroom Georgian-era hotel in Droitwich has been sold for £1.55million.

The two-storey St Andrews Town Hotel was built in 1820 and was originally the home of the town clerk.

The new owner, Khurshid Anwar, is an experienced operator having owned Ely House Hotel in Wolverhampton for 15 years – with the St Andrews deal brokered by adviser Christie & Co.

Mr Anwar said he is “extremely excited” about taking over at St Andrews and is looking forward to taking the historical hotel into the future.

He said: “My congratulations to the previous owner for his achievements. I am looking forward to taking the hotel to the next stage to becoming a first choice destination for our guests visiting the area either for business or pleasure.”

The hotel, which stretches over three floors and includes 1.6 acres of land, is popular for events including weddings and birthday parties, while boasting a bar lounge, garden room, library and restaurant.

Previous owner, Aidan Stevens, who also bought the hotel through Christie & Co in July 2012, intends to focus on a spa development at his other hotel, Stratton House Hotel, in Cirencester, Gloucestershire.

He said: “St Andrews will always have a special place in our hearts, but we are very excited about our plans for the next 18 months.”

Charles Jones, senior business agent at Christie & Co, said he was “delighted” to announce the sale, having overseen it himself.

“I wish Khurshid all the best in his new venture, and I wish Aidan the best of luck with his plans for the Stratton House Hotel.”

“The hotels market in the region continues to buzz with activity, both in terms of the number of opportunities available and the volume of interested buyers, ranging from overseas investors, owner-operators and corporate buyers.,” he continued.

“In a similar vein, the positive growth in appetite across the funding market demonstrates the strength of the sector, particularly for experienced operators and well-located hotels.”

Mr Anwar plans to run both St Andrews and Ely House, and further expand his portfolio in the future.

The hotel is half a mile south of the town centre.