A WELL-KNOWN pub will be getting a facelift after being sold to new owners.

The Duke of Edinburgh in St Thomas Street, Weymouth, has been sold through property agent Christie & Co, for approximately £295,000.

The new owner, Victoria Inns Ltd, took over the pub officially on March 31.

A statement issued by Christie & Co says that the new owners have plans to significantly refurbish the pub and extend the ground floor trading areas.

Christie's spokesman Joe Harvey said: "The pub was going off the asking price of £295,000 and although we can't disclose the final selling figure, it was within 10 per cent of that.

"We put properties out for six weeks but we had a lot of interest for the Duke of Edinburgh and had a number of parties enquiring after it within three weeks.

"The pub was sold to the regional pub operator Victoria Inns Ltd, which has a good record of refurbishing small pubs to their former glory.

"It is not a huge operation but it does have six or seven pubs in its chain.

"We are delighted to have sold this prime-sited town centre pub to Victoria Inns."

The sale was part of a nation-wide group of public houses being marketed on behalf of Admiral Taverns Ltd as part of the ongoing rationalisation of its estate of tenanted pubs'.

Victoria Inns Ltd director Tim Westlake said: "We are all about creating traditional local pubs.

"This won't be a modern-type bar, rather we will looking to attract a regular clientele.

"The current landlord will be staying and we have put in a planning application to Weymouth and Portland Borough Council for our £50,000 refurbishment which will be completed this year."

n Another Weymouth business which has gone up for sale is Lennox Street Stores.

Situated in the Park District, the building is being sold on behalf of proprietors David and June Alford.

The business is currently run as a traditional convenience store selling alcohol, newspapers, tobacco and general household groceries.

Christie & Co is seeking £225,000 for the property.