A POPULAR town centre hotel which helped establish Haltwhistle as the ‘Centre of Britain’ is on the market.

The expert marketing work of owners David Taylor and Grethe Kirkebjerg 25 years ago means Haltwhistle is well known for being the geographical centre of the United Kingdom.

The couple purchased the business in the late 1990s and subsequently launched the ‘Centre of Britain Hotel & Restaurant’, and have since welcomed thousands of guests from all over the world.

The town was labelled as the Centre of Britain because, whichever way you measure it, from North Orkney to Dorset’s Portland Bill, Bowness on Solway to Tynemouth, Haltwhistle lies in the middle of Britain.

David explained: “The general, sometimes controversial, reaction to the Centre of Britain has been astonishing.

“It used to be ‘Haltwhistle, where’s that?’ now it’s ‘Haltwhistle – The Centre of Britain!’ They had never heard of us. They have now!”

They have grown the hotel into a popular business with a healthy turnover, but feel it is time for a new, full-time hands-on owner operator to take over and to further develop trade.

The hotel is steeped in history, which is evident from the array of historic architectural features which have been uncovered throughout the building’s restoration and which now form an integral part of its modern presentation.

The original hotel was once a Border Reivers’ Pele Tower, parts of which date back to the 15th century.

Grethe added: “We love meeting all our guests and have made friends from many different countries.

“Now, after many successful years, we are looking to retire and take up the many invitations to visit them.”

Talking up the prominent town centre building David explained: “As well as a profitable business, I do believe that there is also great potential, with its distinctive crest, to develop the Centre of Britain, as a merchandising brand.”

The 12-bedroomed historic hotel comprises; a restaurant; ‘The Garden Suite’, which is used for functions, parties and weddings; ‘The Lodges’, a lounge area, and ‘The Old Dairy’ which is a former medieval bastle house.

Mark Worley, director at Christie & Co, who is handling the sale, said: “Our clients currently operate the hotel to suit their own lifestyle.

“However, we are certain that new owners could easily adapt this to increase trade and profits.”

The Centre of Britain Hotel & Restaurant is on the market for an asking price of £695,000.