THE Morritt Arms Hotel, a former seventeenth century coaching inn, has been put on the market at a guide price of £1.25m.

Its owners, Peter and Barbara Phillips, have decided to retire after nearly nine years at the hotel in Greta Bridge.

Mrs Phillips told the D&S Times: "We have done an enormous amount of work over the years. When we bought the business it was almost devoid of any good will and basically a bricks and mortar job.

"People can't understand why we are selling when it has never been as good as it is at the moment. But it is very demanding and we need to take a breather."

The couple have bought a home in Neasham and want more time to relax and take part in community life.

But Mrs Phillips stressed: "We don't want people who have booked weddings with us to be concerned that there will be any upheaval.

"All the staff, including the chef, are staying and only the two people at the helm will change. It is an emotional time for brides and I don't want them to have any worries."

The hotel's setting has inspired writers and artists alike as they travelled through the area over the centuries. Charles Dickens, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Sir Walter Scott, and JMW Turner all stayed at the Morritt.

Simon Stevens from selling agent Knight Frank's Leeds Hotels Department said: "Although the present owners have developed a now well-established reputation, the full business potential of the Morritt has not been exploited.

"There is tremendous scope to increase trade, particularly in the corporate and conference business sectors."

Various outbuildings could provide letting accommodation, further conference facilities or even a leisure complex."

Outline planning permission exists to convert the outbuildings into additional accommodation. A luxury private house, adjacent to the hotel, is offered for sale by separate negotiations.

Anyone interested can call Mr Stevens on 0113 297 2445.