A 400-year-old hotel is set to take a step back in time after finding a new owner.

The Blue Boar, in Silver Street, Maldon, which has parts dating from the 14th century, has been bought by local man John Wilsdon for an undisclosed sum.

The grade II listed building had been put on the market by Greene King for £850,000 and was sold off after the company decided it did not fit in with its plans.

Mr Wilsdon, who used to own the Cafe Tourist restaurant in the town, would not give the exact figure he paid for the hotel, but said it was "something less than £1m".

It has 28 bedrooms, a 40-seater restaurant, two bars and a 30-seater conference room and Mr Wilsdon said he intended to restore it to its former glory.

He said: "I'm delighted to have bought it. It is very boring at the moment so I am planning to restore it so it will have charm and character.

"I want to make it seem more like the traditional coaching inn that it always was and will be trying to bring in more tourists to the town."

Published Wednesday, March 20, 2002