Fire-ravaged hotel on market for £250k
It is a fire-ravaged, former country hotel but auctioneers still expect to raise at least £250,000 when it goes under the hammer.
The Mill at Alveley has been put up for sale, despite being destroyed in a huge blaze.
The hotel, chosen as the venue for countless weddings and family occasions, burned down in May.
Since then, Shropshire Council has been put in charge of maintaining safety around the site after police confirmed the fire was started deliberately.
Despite the destruction caused, the 7.9 acre site at Allum Bridge will be auctioned off by Cottons Auctions.
It is being sold as a potential rebuild for a hotel or a change of use as a housing estate.
Auctioneers say the site offers scope for redevelopment – but warns of the 'unsafe condition of the structure'.
Andrew Barden, of Cottons, said: "The hotel ceased trading in October 2014 and was devastated by a major fire in May 2015 and the immediate site around the building is now secured due to the unsafe condition of the structure.
"On the instruction of the local authority, Shropshire Council, the receivers have employed demolition contractors to demolish parts of the building which are considered unsafe and to secure the remainder to prevent intrusion. These works are currently ongoing and will continue up until the sale completion date."
It says the site would be suitable for 'similar commercial uses or alternative residential uses' – meaning the Mill could once again open as a hotel or even become housing or flats. The former hotel will go up for auction at noon on July 14.
The fire on May 18 caused millions of pounds worth of damage and wrecked the once popular landmark hotel. It destroyed the oldest part of the building as well as the roof on the more modern section of the former hotel – exposing many of the 41 the rooms inside which before last year had been used by wedding guests, tourists and businesses.
The hotel, which overlooks picturesque gardens and a pool, dates back to the 16th century. It shut its doors unexpectedly in late September, leaving staff locked out and couples facing a battle over their deposits for weddings.
A Wolverhampton business connected with the hotel, Elysian Care Ltd, which ran Knoll House in Penn in the city and The Homestead care home near Kinver, went into administration last year leading to the closure of both homes.
May's fire was one of the biggest blazes that firefighters have had to deal with in the county recently. Firefighters remained on the scene for four days after the hotel complex was completely destroyed by fire, with crews dampening down and searching for hot spots.
Last month, police handed over the security of the site to Shropshire Council.
Paul McGreary, Shropshire Council director for public protection, said: "Public Protection Services officers have been working with West Mercia Police to find the best solution for securing The Mill Hotel."
