An historic hotel in Kent has sold at auction for £448,000.

Hallam Estates Ltd, the company which owns the freehold of The Grand in Folkestone, was put into administration earlier this year after becoming insolvent.

As a result, the Grade II listed building was put up for auction by order of the administrators, Begbies Traynor, based in Brighton.

It was listed with residential property auctioneers, Barnard Marcus.

Details on their site said the sale offered: "Freehold reversionary ground rent investment, together with substantial conference, banqueting and restaurant facilities forming part of the freehold title."

The building has a "coastal location with coastal park and sea views", the listing added.

According to the Land Registry information the administrators are holding, there appear to be 64 leases - 41 leases with under 55 years remaining and 23 long leases.

Ground rent is charged at £3,595.

It was also revealed that "there are proposed works of repair and maintenance to the fabric of the building towards which the freeholder/commercial owner must make a contribution".

The first bid was placed at £275,000, but in the end it went for £448,000.

It is not known who has purchased the site, or what their future plans for it are.

Robert Moss, a director of Hallam Estates, says furniture and other items, such as a grand piano and heirlooms, have been removed from the building this week.

He said: "There is a lot going on.

"They came in and took stuff, including a £25,000 grand piano and heirlooms."

The Grand - which includes hotel rooms, private apartments, bars and restaurants, was built in 1899 along The Leas and overlooks the English Channel. It has been a popular location for events, including weddings.

Documents posted on Companies House reveal that at a court hearing in December, a judge was satisfied that the Hallam Estates was insolvent on "both a balance sheet and cash flow basis".

In addition, the balance sheet showed a "considerable deficiency".

A post from social media in March revealed staff were shocked and heartbroken over the news that administrators had been appointed.

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone