THE owners of an award-winning boutique hotel in Chester have put it on the market with an asking price of almost £3 million.

Tim Mills and Mike Stephen, of Edgar House on the City Walls, have instructed business property adviser Christie & Co to sell it.

The specialist company believes there is currently a gap in the market for luxury wedding and celebration venues in Chester.

Over recent years, Edgar House has gained national and worldwide recognition resulting in numerous awards.

These include TripAdvisor's Most Romantic Hotel in Europe, The Sunday Times' No1 UK City Hotel, Trivago's Best Hotel in the North West and the 'by invitation only' listing in the Good Hotel Guide.

In 2016 Edgar House also won TripAdvisor's award, No1 Small Hotel in the World.

In a statement, Mr Mills and Mr Stephen said: “We are very proud to have achieved what we had set out to do and more, but it has always been our plan to retire in the coming 12 months.

“We are delighted to be leaving the business in a position of strength with an excellent reputation and in a fantastic position for growth.”

A period Georgian house that overlooks the River Dee, it boasts seven bedrooms across two floors, with a guest lounge, cinema, commercial catering kitchen, internal and external storage, plus a lower ground, one-bedroom apartment with private access.

The hotel has a riverside restaurant, Twenty2, and a riverside garden that offers al fresco dining during the summer months.

There is off street parking available for 12 vehicles, as well as a two-bedroom detached house next door with private parking and garden, included within the sale.

Mr Mills and Mr Stephen bought Edgar House in 2010 and, following an extensive three-year development, opened the site as a hotel, immediately gaining AA’s supreme accolade of five gold stars.

They added: “We have loved running the hotel as a lifestyle business by restricting our number of guests, but for new owners, opening to full capacity, as well as considering the expansion plans for the restaurant extension and increased bedrooms in the next-door property, will hopefully offer a superb opportunity for growth.”

Tom O’Malley, senior agent at Christie & Co, said: “There is a current gap in the market for luxury wedding and celebration venues in Chester.

“In the first quarter of 2018, Edgar House received 82 enquiries for wedding functions to be held in the hotel, without them even marketing events as one of their services.

“Architectural drawings have been completed for an orangery style extension overlooking the river to create an additional 75 covers. Edgar House presents a terrific opportunity to acquire a thriving business and wedding venue.”

Christie & Co is seeking an asking price of £2,950,000.