A FOUR star hotel in the heart of Scarborough has sold for £15.5 million.

The Crown Spa Hotel commands a clifftop location above the town, with views of the sea and coastline.

Built in 1845, the hotel retains many of its original architectural and period features, despite renovations and development over the years.

The construction of a roof-top extension was completed in 2009 and plans to develop a further 77 bedrooms had already been put in place by the previous owners prior to the sale.

Previous owners the Frank family instructed property advisors Christie & Co to sell the property, after 17 years of ownership.

Ryan Lynn, associate director at Christie & Co’s Manchester office said: "Myself and my colleague Jeremy Jones handled the sale for the family where interest came from a variety of UK and overseas buyers.

"The successful purchaser being Compass Hospitality who now operate 12 hotels in the UK on behalf of a growing number of Far East purchasers."

The hotel currently consists of 115 en suite rooms, a dining restaurant and breakfast dining room, a number of conference and banqueting facilities and a health club with gym, pool and spa.