A HOTEL in north Herefordshire is in line for a £1.2 million investment and it undergoes a complete refurbishment which the new owners says will save Bromyard.

The neglected 18-room Hop Pole hotel is a focal point in the town's market square and has just been bought by one of the UK's largest operator of park homes.

Wyldecrest Parks own Saltmarshe Castle Park and Sapey Golf Club, both near Bromyard, but now want to create a five-star hotel, bar and restaurant.

The Sunday Times Rich List revealed the company's chairman as the 450th richest person in the UK earlier this year.

Alfie Best said the £1.2 million investment comes from some of the profits at Saltmarshe.

"This is going to take 18 months to two years to be able to sort the planning out," he said.

"We need to extend it and we want to extend into the loft and create more rooms because there's not enough rooms in there to make it financially viable.

"We don't want to convert it into flats, we want to convert it back to a bespoke hotel, come bar and restaurant with good function rooms below in the cellar.

"This is about saving old building that's the key part to the town and Wyldecrest investing some of its profits back into the area.

"Bromyard needs tourism, it needs footfall and we're bringing both."

Mr Best added 10 full-time jobs will be created, and the loft extension will increase the number of rooms overall.

"I love the town, it's a fantastically historic town, but it's dying.

"Bromyard needs as many people and businesses to invest in the area, not change it, but to invest in it and bring it forward to the 21st century, but keeping it in its historic feel."

He added: "It will be a five-star establishment and there will be a dress code if you wish to dine in there.