New owners for Solihull country inn

The White Lion inn, which occupies the High Street in the Warwickshire village of Hampton-in-Arden, has passed into new hands.

The property in the affluent borough of Solihull has been acquired by John Thorne and Tim Platt (who previously owned Spirals restaurant in Knowle, Solihull).

The inn is just two-and-a-half miles from Birmingham International Airport and the NEC exhibition centre.

Known for its food and real ales, the Grade II-listed timber-framed building was originally a farmhouse in the 17th century and has been licensed since the 1830s.

Along with eight letting bedrooms, it has a 15-seat snug bar, 30-seat main bar and 40-seat a la carte restaurant.

The Birmingham office of Christie + Co sold the property off a guide price of £225,000 for the lease, which runs until January 2014.

Christie + Co acted on behalf of Carolyn Furby, who owned the property for four-and-a-half years.

By Angela Frewin