McLeish completes sale of Capital hotel

FOOTBALL manager Alex McLeish has completed the sale of a hotel he part-owned in Edinburgh.

The Aston Villa manager has sold the Brunswick Hotel on Leith Walk for 795,000.

The former Scotland boss co-owned the Brunswick Street hotel, which dates back to the 19th century and was designed by William Playfair, with local businessman Ewan Gilles.

Buyers John Gilmore and Jennifer Thorpe now plan to convert the ten-bedroom hotel back into its original use as a townhouse.

Mr Gilles said: "In recent times I have had to run the hotel under management due to other business commitments and Alex has always been a silent partner."

Patrick Paton of Knight Frank, which handled the sale, said: "There is no question that John Gilmore and Jennifer Thorpe will make a fantastic job of bringing this wonderful house back to its former glory."