The historic Corinium Hotel in Cirencester has new operators following the sale of the leasehold of the Grade II listed three-star hotel.

It has been purchased in a deal negotiated by the hotels agency team at real estate advisor Colliers on behalf of the previous leaseholders, who have decided to retire.

Located just a few minutes' walk from the centre of the Gloucestershire town, the hotel has 15 letting bedrooms, which include two four-poster bedrooms, plus a bar and lounge area with seating for about 30, and a restaurant with seating for 60. Externally, there is a large, sheltered beer garden at the rear beyond which is the car park.

Peter Brunt, director at Colliers, said: "The Corinium Hotel is one of those places that I wish I had three to five of, as I could have sold them all. There was huge demand which resulted in competitive bidding.

"Having sold the leasehold of the Corinium Hotel to the previous operators some 12 years ago, I'm delighted to have acted again in this latest sale of the leasehold to new operators.

"I'm sure they will enjoy taking the helm at this easily-run accommodation-led business, which generates a healthy turnover and is well-located in the thriving market town of Cirencester, often referred to as the capital of the Cotswolds."

The 20-year lease of the Corinium Hotel was sold off a guide price of £250,000. The sale price for the leasehold is undisclosed.

The new operators of the Corinium Hotel, which is believed to date back to the 17th century, are David and Julie Sherriff.

They are moving to Cirencester from Pembrokeshire in Wales, where they combined farming with holiday lodge letting and a motorhome hire business.

David Sherriff said that he and his wife had decided to buy the leasehold of the Corinium Hotel so that they could move to the Cotswolds to be closer to relatives.

"We're already making plans to set up a pizza kitchen in the hotel garden ready for 12 April when the hospitality sector is allowed to serve customers outdoors," he added.

"We hadn't considered a lease purchase when we started looking at hospitality properties in the Cotswolds, but we realised it offered an excellent opportunity when we saw the Corinium Hotel.

"It is a very attractive and well-looked after period property with individual character bedrooms, and a large garden which can seat over 60 people. In addition, the fact that it has a private car park is a huge attraction given the demand for parking spaces in the centre of Cirencester."

The name of the Corinium Hotel is linked to Cirencester's history as a Roman town known as Corinium Dobunnorum.