A RUN-down Brampton hotel which sold for thousands of pounds less than the asking price last year is back on the market.

The White Lion Hotel in High Cross Street is due to go under the hammer again when it is auctioned off next month.

The three-storey hotel was sold at auction last September for £155,000, despite a guide price of £225,000.

It was bought by Suffolk Life, which specialises in self-invested personal pensions (Sipps).

At the time the pension administrator could not reveal anything about the plans for the building, which has had a string of owners in recent years, because it owns assets on behalf of investors.

A spokesman for Suffolk Life explained: "Self-invested personal pension (SIPP) businesses such as Suffolk Life often own a property on behalf of an underlying investor.

"They act on instructions from the underlying investor, or investors, rather than make decisions such as developing, renovating, selling etc themselves. We’re unable to make any specific comment about The White Lion."

Now with a top guide price of £170,000, it will be auctioned-off by Pugh auctioneers on December 6 at the AJ Bell Stadium in Manchester.

The building has a bar and games room, lounge and dining room, kitchen, dry store, beer cellar, private accommodation and 10 letting rooms, three with en-suite facilities.

The Lowther Arms, in Queen Street, Penrith, will be auctioned off the same day.

Meanwhile, plans to convert one of Gilsland's pubs into a home have been the subject of an application to have them renewed.

The application has been lodged with Carlisle City Council and asks to renew previously approved planning consent for a change of use of the Bridge Inn into a home and to build an adjoining home as well.

This was granted in 2014.

Work would include the demolition of flat-roof extensions to the side and back of the pub building, alterations to the existing building's layout and the erection of a two storey building.

The statement accompanying the application states: "The existing building to be altered, together with the one to be erected, would provide an attractive elevation to the public highway, which is wholly in keeping with the site and surroundings, including the several listed buildings that are within the vicinity.

"The removal of the single and two storey side extensions would clean the visual appearance of The Bridge Inn.

"From a design point of view the alterations would enhance the street scene and appearance of this part of Gilsland."