Couple sell historic hotel for over £1 million (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Couple sell historic hotel for over £1 million

ONE of England's oldest inns has been sold.

Alan and Georgina Thompson have thanked Stow-on-the-Wold's residents for supporting them throughout the four years they owned the town's Royalist Hotel, which has been sold by them for £1.85 million.

With their children, Harry, one, and Sophie, three, they are moving to Alan's homeland of Australia after selling the Digbeth Street hotel and its Eagle and Child pub to Cheltenham restaurateur, Peter Rowan.

Having previously run London's 755 Fulham Road restaurant, they bought The Royalist in 2000 and went onto increase its stars from one to three, while earning four rosettes.

They boosted staffing levels from four to 23 and opened 947AD, a restaurant named after the year the inn was founded.

Alan, 33, from New South Wales and formerly New Zealand Chef of the Year, said they had already put the property on sale and decided to move to Australia before their employees, Andalucia Goosen, 24, and Eleonora Sulikowska, 18, died last November in a fire at leased staff accommodation in Church Street.

Calling for legislation to prevent such fatalities, Alan said: "It was a very sad, tragic event."

In April, he and Georgina, 29, will move to Brisbane where he plans to build a house and become an executive chef.

Alan said: "I would very much like to thank the locals. Right from day one there was 100 percent support.

"When you walk up the street you have to stop 10 times because you know everybody and have to say hello."