A BRIDPORT hotel has been ranked among the best in the world with others in New York and Brazil in a recent poll.

The Bull Hotel in East Street was recently named by the Sunday Times travel magazine as being one of the top ten best bargain hostelries.

The accolade rates the hotel higher than the Gershwin in New York, Ravesi's in Sydney and Pousada Dos Artistas in Brazil.

Owner Richard Cooper says he has been surprised by the attention the hotel has attracted.

"It's been remarkable and quite interesting that a hotel in Bridport can make it into this category," he said. "I never thought when my wife Nikki and I came down here from London that we would do this."

Mr Cooper, 43, used to manage a company organising musicians' tours and concerts in Asia before returning to London and continuing to work in the music industry.

While in the capital he met his future wife Nikki with whom he now has a daughter Teddie, three, and Stanley, one.

The couple moved to Bridport four years ago and took over running the Bull.

"I think it's successful because it's such a beautiful building in a beautiful town," said Mr Cooper.

"We've obviously created a framework and an environment which is unusual in the hotel world.

"It's not to everybody's taste but certainly people who are well-travelled and experienced love it.

"It stands out from the crowd as a funky, boutique hotel."

The Bull Hotel was ranked the fourth best value bargain hostelry in the world in the poll.

It also beat tough competition from the Migrante guest house in Boa Vista in the Cape Verde Islands, Casa Dona Clara in Santiago and Threadneedles in London.