Contents of Dormy House hotel to be auctioned

The four-star, 45-bedroom hotel is to close next month to undergo a £10m refurbishment and all the contents of the hotel - more than 500 lots - will be sold at a public auction, to be held at the hotel, on 18 March.

David Field, the hotel's general manager (pictured here on the right with the auctioneer Martin Homer), said that the items to be sold will reflect the history of the hotel, which is set within a converted 17th century farmhouse.

"Over the past 35 years we've attracted many devoted guests who come here time and time again and this is a unique chance for them to own a piece of the venue," explained Field.

"We hope to see many familiar faces at the auction and we look forward to the redevelopment of the hotel that will begin soon after. We can assure guests that just because the fittings and furniture will be changing, the welcome will be as warm as ever at the new-look Dormy!"

Items to be sold include all the furniture, as well as the cutlery, crockery and curtain. Homer of Littletons Auctions said it is the first time that he has held an auction within at a hotel to sell off all of its furniture.

"Being able to hold the sale at Dormy itself, rather than in an auction house, is perfect because people will get an idea of the context and history of the items by seeing them all in situ. It's impossible at this stage to say how much is likely to be raised but it should be great fun!"

Dormy House plans to reopen following the initial £5m redevelopment of the bedrooms and public rooms in the summer, while the new £5m new House Spa will be launched in early 2014.

Dormy House hotel to close for six months for £5m refurbishment >>