A HISTORIC 32-bedroom hotel on the outskirts of a Darlington village has sold for £1.2 million after going on the market just months after a new owner had been found.

Piercebridge’s George Hotel was secured by hoteliers in November last year, but the 16th century wedding venue found itself up for sale this year.

Hotel group Shepherd Cox offered the full asking price for the hotel which boasts its own ballroom and the six-figure sum was accepted on behalf of the sellers by business property advisers, Christie & Co.

Mark Worley, director at Christie & Co, said: “The fact that these deals were all done on a very confidential basis with very little open marketing of any kind demonstrates the increasing interest in the North-East hotel market.

“This should also be of interest to hotel owners who would consider a sale but are wary of the effect that the process of finding a buyer may have on their business.”

In its past, the hotel which stands on the banks of the River Tees, is believed to have hosted infamous highwayman, Dick Turpin.

New owners, Shepherd Cox, have revealed the sale will see the company taking on its twelfth hotel venture.

Nick Carlile, of Shepherd Cox, said: “The George adds to our expanding hotel portfolio and we have exciting plans for its ongoing improvement and expansion.”