A POPULAR Georgian guest house in North Yorkshire has been sold for close to the freehold asking price of £899,000.

The buyer of the 11-bedroom Newton House in York Place, Knaresborough, is Denise Carter, who six years ago sold the Ruskin Hotel in Harrogate after turning it into an acclaimed venture earning, among many awards, the Sunday Times Golden Pillow.

Agents Christie + Co reported big interest in Newton House, which has an AA 4-star highly commended rating. According to the agency specifications, it generated a net profit of about £60,000 for the year ending last March, based on VAT sales of £192,831.

Denise decided to buy Newton House in spite of the sluggish economy because she knew previous owners of the hotel and was aware of its good position, success and potential. She said: “Everybody says I am mad, but I hope to prove them wrong.”

She has begun to formulate plans for the hotel’s future. “I hope to bring the same standards to Newton House as I applied at the Ruskin Hotel, although I have a head start because the guest house already has a good reputation on which I hope to build.”

Meanwhile, she plans to add one more bedroom, will ensure breakfasts continue to use locally produced food, and aims to maintain its popularity with wedding party guests for ceremonies at nearby venues like Goldborough Hall and Allerton Park.

She also plans to cater for the local business community by offering special business rates.