A MAN who today revealed himself to be the £1.7 million "mystery buyer" of The Judges' Lodging, has announced big plans for the future of the York hotel regarded as one of the finest Georgian town homes in England.

York businessman Peter O'Toole bought the 14-bedroom hotel with pub and restaurant within a Grade I listing from Ray Laciok last April with the help of Clifton Moor-based Acorn Commercial Finance.

Now he plans massive restoration of the building, which was built in 1720 as a town house for Dr Clifton Wintringham, on the graveyard of the demolished St Wilfrid's Church.

Architects down the centuries have marvelled at its Venetian-style entrance, Ionic columns and, as the keystone, the head of Aesclepius, the Greek god of healing who was the son of Apollo.

Mr O'Toole, 37, an expert in interior design, said: "It's a fantastic building with so much potential and while there are a number of regular guests, diners and drinkers, I don't think a lot of people realise it's there.

"My aim is to restore the building to its former glory, maintaining the period style while injecting some life into the business. "

He has already secured planning consent to redecorate the elegant three-storey hotel and plans to start work on "a sympathetic refurbishment project" once the summer season is over.

The aim is to have some of the 14 ensuite rooms plus the bar/lounge area ready for Christmas, with the restaurant, under new head chef , Andrew Norris, refurbished by the end of October.

His further plans for the restaurant, which include a terrace extension, are now being scrutinised by English Heritage; and he foresees revamping the ground floor pub "and developing its potential as a live music venue in the city."

He said: "There's huge scope to extend the services and facilities we can offer to drinkers, diners, businesses within and visitors to York.

"In 12 months time I'd like us to have more and more leisure guests as well as people coming to us for business meetings, functions and banqueting."

Tom Thompson, partner at Acorn Commercial Finance, said: "It's great to see a project undertaken with such enthusiasm and I'm sure that Peter's property development experience, combined with his innovative ideas will ensure this fabulous city centre building is sympathetically refurbished while giving an important York business a new lease of life."

Updated: 11:25 Friday, July 30, 2004