AN HISTORIC hotel has been sold to a Michelin star chef for £1.2million.

The Bridge House Hotel, Beaminster, has been bought by Chris Staines and Silvana Bandini.

Chris is a Michelin star chef with a wealth of experience, having spent the last five years as an executive chef at The Abbey Hotel in Bath, and Silvana is also very experienced in the hotel sector, having worked as the assistant general manager at The Pig Hotel, also near Bath.

The Grade II listed country town hotel sold for £1,250,000 through specialist business property adviser Christie & Co.

Originally a clergy house and dating back to the 13th Century, the property has been stylishly renovated but still retains many characterful features, including stone mullioned windows, inglenook fireplaces and oak beams.

The venue boasts a 50-cover dining room, a bar and restaurant and 14 en-suite guest bedrooms. Set on a third of an acre of land, the site caters for weddings and functions for up to 30 guests with the backdrop of the Jurassic Coast.

The hotel is popular, with repeat guests visiting the region to explore West Dorset’s rolling hills, dramatic cliff tops and beautiful beaches.

Chris said: “We are delighted to have found the Bridge House Hotel – it is the perfect first venture for us and we are extremely excited to be taking it on. We are going to be making some significant changes over the next few months, moving away from the formality of a hotel towards a ‘restaurant with rooms’ concept, and are planning a re-launch closer to the summer.”

Previous owners, Mark and Jo Donovan, owned and operated The Bridge House for 14 years but have decided to move on to pursue new ventures.

Matthew Smith, director at Christie & Co’s, said: “The business attracted interest from a variety of buyers and we are thrilled to announce the sale.

“This is an exciting time for everyone involved in The Bridge House Hotel and we welcome Chris  and Silvana, who have a great vision and skill, as they embark on a new phase for the business.”