THE last small sea front hotel in Exmouth has been put up for auction, and is set to reopen after being closed for three years - if the right owner can be found.

THE last small sea front hotel in Exmouth has been put up for auction, and is set to reopen after being closed for three years - if the right owner can be found.

The currently closed Kerans Hotel in Mamhead View has been put on the market for between �275,000 to �325,000 and is to go under the hammer in London at the end of this month.

The hotel has had a controversial history – after closing as a hotel it reopened at the beginning of 2007 as a homeless hostel for East Devon District Council for 12 clients and staff.

But the owners Goldmax and providers Lifecare Solutions Ltd, who run several hostels for the council throughout the district did not have

planning permission.

And following objections from neighbours and it was closed at the end of 2007 and has remained closed ever since.

But agents Christie and Co have said that now the 10-bed hotel has been fully refurbished and is ready to be run as a bed and breakfast/guest house hotel once again.

Simon Harvey and John Crocker, Directors at Christie + Co’s said : “(It) represent superb value for any would be operator looking for a hotel / guest house or other potential use who are looking to establish themselves in the area.”

The Kerans Hotel is being auctioned by Allsop on 31 March 2011 at The Park Lane Hotel, London starting at 10:30am.