THE only hotel in a town awarded World Heritage Status remains unsold after a planned auction was postponed.
Prospective bidders were expected to attend at the Lion Hotel in Blaenavon on Wednesday, March 18 for the auction with the pub and hotel having a guide price of £350,000.
The Lion closed in January due to retirement and concerns have been raised by local residents, councillors and Torfaen Borough Council over its future due to its importance to local tourism.
Blaenavon was designated a World Heritage site, the same status as iconic locations such as India’s Taj Mahal and the Pyramids in Egypt, by United Nations historic and cultural body UNESCO in 2000 due to its international importance in iron making and coal mining in the late 18th and the early 19th century. The town also borders the Bannau Brycheniog National Park.
Auctioneers Sidney Phillips said Wednesday’s auction will be rearranged for a date yet to be confirmed and the postponement was due to the auction pack not being completed.