A FOUR centuries old hotel is to be turned into student digs, after it was sold to a university.

Durham University would confirm only that it has purchased the Three Tuns Hotel, which occupies a key site on New Elvet, in Durham city centre.

However, in an email to students seen by The Northern Echo, Professor David Held, the master of University (Castle) College, says the hotel, which has 50 en-suite rooms, will become accommodation for postgraduate students from October.

Prof Held writes that he is delighted to announce the “major development”, which he says has far reaching positive implications for University College in general and postgraduates in particular.

His email continues: “This creates a unique opportunity to develop a postgraduate community at Castle in the centre of Durham.

“The suite will be used for visiting fellows and/or academics resident in the college.”

It is not known how much the university paid for the hotel or how much it will spend converting the building.

However, the deal was welcomed by Roberta Blackman-Woods, Labour MP for Durham City.

She said: “This is good news for Durham as using a former hotel for student accommodation may free up city centre homes for families.

“However, I hope that the hotel accommodation is replaced elsewhere in Durham as it is important that we are still able to welcome guests and visitors to our city.”

The hotel dates back to the 16th Century and was formerly Durham’s premier visitor destination.

Part of the Edinburgh-based Swallow Group which went into administration in 2006, it has suffered in recent years and was put up for sale in 2008.

The hotel closed earlier this month, with the loss of around 20 jobs. As well as 50 bedrooms, it has a lounge bar and restaurant and conference facilities for up to 350 people.

Signs have appeared in the windows saying the hotel is closed, with apologies for any inconvenience.