A landmark Brighton hotel has fallen into the hands of the receiver.

The Royal York Hotel in Old Steine, Brighton, has been placed into administration by the owner, MAX Hotels (York) Ltd.

The administration is being handled by RSM Tenon.

It is open for business while a buyer is sought and is currently being operated by London-based Convivial Management Solutions.

In April 2009 the 59-room hotel was branded under the prestigious Radisson Blu banner by the international chain the Rezidor Group.

But the group subsequently dropped its association with the hotel.

It was later rebranded as The MAX Hotel at Royal York Buildings when it was bought by Max Hotels.

David Glover, a director at the Imperial Property Group, the parent company of Max hotels, said difficult trading conditions had forced the company to put the property into administration.

He said: “It is very sad but we were unable to keep the hotel going in the current economic climate.

"RSM Tenon is looking for a buyer and hopes to sell it as a going concern.”

The property was built in 1771 as private homes and was converted into a hotel in 1819.

It was subsequently used as offices from 1929 to 2003.

In 2007, the property underwent a complete renovation and regained its status as one of the city’s most prominent hotels.

Its key selling point is its location within a stone’s throw of the Palace Pier, the Royal Pavilion and The Lanes.