BOURNEMOUTH’S most famous hotel has been sold.

The Royal Bath was one of two hotels snapped up by the Britannia group in a deal worth a total of £20 million.

The 174-year-old hotel, which has been on the market since February, employs around 150 staff.

Andrew Woodland, chair of the Bournemouth Accommodation and Hotels Association, said: “It needs somebody with financial backing and Britannia has that.

“Anybody who is prepared to invest in Bournemouth’s hotel industry has got to be praised.”

The four-star, 140-bedroom hotel is in a prime position overlooking Bournemouth pier.

Britannia’s other Bournemouth hotels are the Heathlands, Roundhouse and Britannia.

Crispin Farbrother, a senior lecturer in hospitality management at Bournemouth University, said there was good money to be made in the top end of the hotel market and he would “very surprised” if Britannia did not try to keep up its four stars.

Britannia, which owns other hotels throughout the country, did not reply to enquiries.

Previous owners De Vere sold it to generate money for new build hotels.