A WELL-KNOWN hotel in the heart of Hexham has changed hands for the first time in 32 years after it was sold for £1.9m.

Roger and Magda Davy took over the town’s Beaumont Hotel on Friday, after relocating their young family from London.

It’s a welcome return to Roger’s roots for the couple, who have spent the last few years transforming a struggling pub in Twickenham into a thriving family-friendly eatery.

“I was born in Hexham and have always regularly visited family here,” said Roger (41) who met Magda (34), who is originally from Poland, when the pair were working at a bar in Richmond.

“We bought the pub in July 2012 and sold it in December 2015 after someone made us a very good offer for it.

“We called it The Aleksander after our son.”

Retirement now beckons after more than three decades at the helm for Martin and Linda Owen, who have worked hard since 1984 to develop The Beaumont into a classic three star market town hotel, which has 34 en-suite letting bedrooms, as well as a bar, restaurant, function and meeting facilities.

Peter Bean, hotels director at Colliers, who advised Martin and Linda on the sale, said: “I have known The Beaumont for many years, watching it grow into the excellent hotel that it is today, and I know that Martin and Linda are delighted that it will be in Roger and Magda’s very experienced hands.”

After establishing a successful Italian a la carte kitchen at The Aleksander, Roger and Magda are keen to develop the restaurant at the hotel.

“It’s trading well as a hotel so I think what we’d like to do is develop the food and drink side of things,” said Roger, who is now living on Leazes Lane with Magda, five-year-old Aleksander and their daughter Amelie (3).

“We’ll overhaul the kitchen and menus, as well as some of the communal areas, to hopefully create somewhere which is known for the food in Hexham and throughout the Tyne Valley.”

High quality, seasonal produce which has been sourced locally will be the order of the day in the restaurant.

And Roger hopes to be able to employ more than the current 15 members of staff as the business grows.

“We’ll keep the Best Western franchise going for now, because the accommodation side of things is not our area of expertise,” he explained.

“But we’re ready to work hard and would like to become independent in the future.

“My family have had numerous important occasions at the hotel over the years so it’s a place that means a lot to me.”