In short... no one it appears.

When the safety fears were first identified this week and the road shut off, Carlisle City Council issued a statement reminding people that they do not own the building but by law have an obligation to ensure its safety.

Over the time the hotel has been shut - since about 2004 - the authority has spent £250,000 propping it up.

It has been a long-held belief that the Crown Estate, a Government-ran institution inherited the building.

However, in a statement to the News & Star and The Cumberland News , they refuted that claim.

A spokesman for The Crown Estate said: “The hotel is not owned by The Crown Estate and we therefore cannot take responsibility for its management.

"It is subject to an unusual legal process called escheat, which is a term given to property which has become ownerless.

"Escheat law does give The Crown Estate the ability to sell properties which are subject to escheat back to a private owner, who would be able to manage the property.

"We recognise that this would be desirable and will work with interested parties if approached."