The Grand hotel in Brighton has been sold.

The hotel in Kings Road Brighton had been up for sale with a £50 million price tag after owners the De Vere Group spent more than £7 million on improvements to the hotel.

The Argus reported in March that the owners of exclusive department stores Selfridge's and Fortnum and Mason were rumoured to be in the running to buy Brighton's most iconic hotel but the hotel's general manager could only say it had been sold to private investors.

The Grand's GM Andrew Mosley confirmed the sale and said it had been passed on to "good hands" and that he expected the current management to stay in place.