TWO of Southampton’s best-known hotels have been put on the market with multi-million-pound price tags in a bid to attract deep-pocketed investors to the city.

Estate agents Christie & Co are masterminding the sale of Southampton Park Hotel and are looking for a top business brain to buy a share of Chilworth Manor Hotel and Spa. Both sales are expected to generate millions of pounds, bringing a boost the city’s economy.

Gavin Elliott, managing director of the Chilworth hotel, wants to see a business partner join him in taking over the £4.5m hotel.

About 60 members of staff work at the hotel and spa in Chilworth, where three fellow directors are in the process of retiring.

Mr Elliott said: “I’m working hard to find an investor to partner up with us in the running of the hotel.

“As far as the position of the hotel and staff is concerned, it’s very much business as usual, nothing really has changed.

“I’m in advanced talks at the moment to get other people to come on board.”

An original Edwardian manor house set in about five hectares of land, the hotel opened a spa and health club in 2007, which currently has about 800 members.

It is set within the University of Southampton Science Park, which houses over 50 hi-tech companies.

With 95 en-suite guest bedrooms the hotel has been extended over the years and has two banqueting suites and ten conference rooms.

Joining it on the market is the 72- room Southampton Park Hotel, for a guide price of £2.5m.

Ed Bellfield, who is handling this sale at Christie & Co, said: “Southampton Park Hotel represents an excellent opportunity for a forward-thinking individual or experienced operator to increase revenue and convert profitability in line with industry standards.

“The property also lends itself for redevelopment, either residential or commercial, subject to obtaining the necessary consents.”

No one from the Southampton Park Hotel, which overlooks Cumberland Place in the city centre, was available for further comment.