The Anvil Hotel & Restaurant in the Dorset village of Pimperne has been sold to Hunts Frozen Foods of Sherborne. It is the second historic Dorset hotel Hunts has acquired through Christie & Co this year, the company having purchased the Wessex Royale Hotel in Dorchester from Mark Bowley in an off-market deal in July. The Anvil Hotel & Restaurant stands alongside the A354 Blandford to Salisbury road, just two miles from Blandford Forum. Dating from the 16th Century, when King Henry VIII gave the village of Pimperne to his sixth wife, Queen Catherine Parr, the property has a wealth of charm and character, retaining many original features such as exposed beams and a stone fireplace. Colin and Carolann Palmer had owned and operated the business for 15 years, during which time it was comprehensively refurbished and extended, very much in keeping with the original building. The property has 12 en suite letting bedrooms, two character bars and the 40-seat Hawkins restaurant. It has two-star rating from the English Tourism Council and Michelin (2000) listing. Chris Kent of Christie & Co's Winchester office, who negotiated the sale, said Hunts Frozen Foods purchased the Anvil to run alongside their main core business of food wholesaling. The catering and food wholesaling company had earlier acquired the three-star Wessex Royale Hotel, built by the Earl of Ilchester in 1756. It has traded as a hotel since 1902 and has 27 bedrooms, lounge bar, à la carte restaurant and meeting facilities.
