Suffolk hotel sold for first time in 33 years

The Grange hotel, a Victorian building outside the Suffolk village of Thurston, has changed hands for the first time since it became a hotel 33 years ago.

Built in 1895 and converted into a hotel by the Wagstaff family in 1974, the property occupies 1.5 acres of land near Bury St Edmunds.

It offers 18 en-suite bedrooms, including three one-bedroom log cabins, and has planning permission to add another five cabins in woodland.

The three-star hotel also has two restaurants to seat a total 70 diners, a main bar, a 120-capacity wedding and function room (the hotel hosted more than 50 weddings in 2006) and a 20-delegate conference room.

There is also a double-bedroom apartment for the owners on the first floor with a balcony, kitchenette and bathroom.

It's a first hotel buy for new owner Vipul Khurana, who owns a food manufacturing business in Braintree, Essex. His wife plans to open a therapeutic treatment room in the hotel.

The Ipswich office of Christie + Co sold the freehold off a guide price of £1.5m.

By Angela Frewin