Hidden gem on Shropshire broder with a hefty price tag
It once played host to Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, now one of the region's hidden gems has been put up for sale for almost £800,000.
Milebrook House, which now runs as a country hotel, is in Knighton on the borders of Shropshire and Powys in Mid-Wales.
It has been run as a hotel and award-winning restaurant for several years but the current owners have decided to sell up in order to retire.
The double winged-house, which is covered in roses and rambling ivy, was once home to one of the 20th century's greatest explorers and writers Sir Wilfred Thesiger and was built in the 1760's as a dower house to nearby Stanage Castle.
The 10-bedroom hotel, which has planning permission to expand, also played host to Selassie in the mid-1930s.
The emperor, who is still revered among the Rastafari movement, was forced to flee Ethiopia in 1936 when he came to England and took up residence in Bath, from where on occasion he travelled to Knighton to visit Milebrook House — then owned by the Thesiger family.
Located in a designated Area of Outstanding Beauty, the hotel and restaurant has long been a must-visit for foodies having been awarded an AA Rosette. It has been recognised in the Michelin Guide 2014 and Good Hotel Guide 2014.
The house, which has three acres of gardens, also has an established kitchen and herb garden and is set in some of the most stunning countryside between Clun and Knighton.
As well as established fruit trees including, redcurrants, blackcurrants, gooseberries, damsons, apples and pears, there is also a large croquet lawn and table tennis area.
Beyond this is the paddock which has been planted with over 600 native trees. The paddock also has a wildlife pond, with great crested newts, dragonflies and regular visiting kingfishers and herons. There are a variety of outdoor activities nearby. Walkers and ramblers can take to the nearby 135-mile Glyndwr's Way and Offa's Dyke, while history fans can pay a visit to the Mediaeval local castles or picturesque market towns of Knighton and Ludlow.
Alternatively, sport enthusiasts can work off the post-lunch slump by cycling the miles of beautiful rolling hills, and nature lovers should pack their binoculars as the area is a bird of prey habitat.
Sophia Sangchi of Christie and Co's Bristol office is handling the sale.
She said: "With three acres of gardens, visitors can look out across England, the border of which starts just after the River Teme.
"The 10-bedroom hotel has been granted planning permission to extend the accommodation by a further eight en-suite bedrooms and a new manager's house in the grounds, which leaves plenty of room for business growth for any potential new owner."
Christie + Co is seeking offers over £795,000 for the freehold.
Anyone interested in buying the property should contact Sophia Sangchi on (0117) 946 8518.
