A PROMINENT Hereford hotel has been bought by a consortium of primarily county investors who plan to restore it to its former glory.

The Green Dragon Hotel in Broad Street has long been in need of a refurbishment and the investors said the renovation work at the Grade II-listed building will begin in the winter.

The project has been led by Julian Vaughan and supported by Christian Dangerfield who is acting for Blue Sky Corporate Finance.

Julian has spent much of his life in the hotel industry and he was, until recently, commercial director of Journey, a leading hotel branding and marketing company.

He has also been involved in transforming his wife’s family home at Dewsall Court in south Herefordshire into a popular wedding and events venues.

As the hotel’s new managing director Mr Vaughan said: “There has been a coaching inn on the site of The Green Dragon Hotel for hundreds of years and we feel strongly that it should be a thriving and dynamic part of Hereford’s future.

"We plan to celebrate its past, while creating a 21st century meeting-point for Herefordshire's leisure and business communities.

"Five million tourists visit our county every year but relatively few come into the city - we see that as a real opportunity.

"Herefordshire is home to a huge number of fantastic and innovative independent food and drink producers; we want to create a showcase for them in The Green Dragon Hotel which will ultimately attract visitors from all over the world.”

The investor consortium includes restaurant, hospitality and food entrepreneur, Luke Johnson, who lives near Malvern and who owns Penyard House Hotel near Ross-on Wye.

Robin Sheppard, founder and chairman of Bespoke Hotels, the UK’s largest independent hotel group and chairman of the Green Dragon Hotel’s new board of directors, said: "The Green Dragon Hotel is a real gem and its restoration should be a tremendous boost for Hereford and Herefordshire.

"Julian and Christian have some very exciting ideas about how to reclaim its position at the heart of the city with broader national appeal.”

The hotel has 83 bedrooms and contains some of the city’s largest internal hospitality spaces.

It will continue to trade as normal and remain open during the phased refurbishment programme, which will begin in the winter. No job losses are anticipated.

Follow the Green Dragon’s future on Instagram: newgreendragonhotel (The Green Dragon Hotel)