A FORMER pub and restaurant near Ellesmere Port has failed to sell at auction.

The Hooton Hotel, which closed in 2018, was given a guide price of £325,000 to £350,000 ahead of the online auction held by Pugh yesterday (September 9).

The 1.25 acre site next to Hooton railway station, which has parking provision for 50 vehicles, was among more than 80 lots to go under the hammer.

Speaking ahead of the auction, Pugh managing director Paul Thompson said: "Properties such as the Hooton Hotel offer great potential either for strategic redevelopment schemes and it would be tremendous to see the venue become an asset to the community once again.

"The site is in an excellent location, with superb road and rail links on the doorstep, as well as being just 10 miles from Chester.”

Pugh's next online auction takes place on October 21 with a summary of the lots available later this month.

The auction house has sold more than 120 lots and reported sales of over £11m at its online auctions since lockdown.