A well-known hotel in the heart of York is up for sale for £595,000.

St Paul's Hotel in Holgate Road, which overlooks St Paul's Square, has been put in the hands of property agents Christie & Co, of Leeds, by Morman Shipley, its owner.

Mr Shipley plans to retire after ten successful years running the early Victorian hotel, which can accommodate 24 guests.

The terraced property, a grade II listed building, was built in 1839 for a notable York solicitor, Steven Wilks.

It consists of a lower ground floor, ground floor, two upper floors and an attic, has large family rooms, a dining room which can seat 16 guests, and an owner's apartment with rest room, bathroom, dressing room and store rooms.

There are also gardens front and rear and a car park.

Mark Bailey, of Christie & Co, said he anticipated "a high level of interest" from potential buyers, given that it was an attractive hotel in a desirable area of York, with access to the A59 Harrogate to York route.

Updated: 09:44 Wednesday, February 04, 2004