A York businessman, race horse owner and commercial property landlord has bought the Bootham Bar Hotel, High Petergate, York off an asking price of £525,000.

He is Steve Hull, who sold Online Computer Services, the software company in Shipton Road to Alphameric plc but continued as managing director under the new branding.

The hotel adds to Mr Hull's property portfolio which includes Kings House in King Street, where tenants are Silvanos Italian Restaurant and the Asian restaurant, King's Ransom.

The deal was completed by Barry Crux & Company acting for vendors John and Bev Dearnley, who operated Bootham Bar Hotel as a family business for nearly 19 years.

The 14-bedroom hotel in the heart of the city adjoins the Bar Walls and, being a stone's throw from York Minster, was always a successful venture.

Now Mr Hull, who owns Sporting Gesture, twice-winner at York this year among his five racehorses, plans to invest another £150,000 in the hotel. His son, Lewis, who will manage the hotel, said: "We are hoping that by January we will have created a boutique-style hotel with every bedroom uniquely decorated in their own individual designs."

He also plans to re-open the Parlour tea room, which is part of the complex, as a coffee and sandwich bar.

Updated: 14:56 Tuesday, September 23, 2003