French Horn restaurant and hotel for sale

AN iconic hotel in Sonning is on the market for the first time in 50 years.

The French Horn at Sonning is up for sale for offers over £12million. The 12-room riverside hotel and restaurant comes with adjacent residential properties and 8.6acres.

The 19th century coaching inn, which was bought by Ronnie and Carole Emmanuel in 1972, has been visited by guests including Princess Margaret, Lady Diana Spencer and Elizabeth Taylor.

It has also appeared in popular literature and television, including Midsommer Murders, Alfie and Jerome K Jerome’s 1889 novel Three Men in a Boat, where he describes it as “The most fairy-like nook on the whole river”.

The restaurant serves French-inspired cuisine and has 100 covers.

Michael Emmanuel, son of Mr and Mrs Emmanuel, said: “After five wonderful decades of overseeing The French Horn and creating cherished memories for our patrons, it is with a mixture of sadness and excitement that we have made the decision to put this iconic property on the market.

“It's not easy to say goodbye to a place that has been the heart of our family for so long, but we're eager to see the next chapter of its storied history unfold. We're grateful for the support and loyalty of our patrons and look forward to passing the torch to someone who will continue to honour the legacy of this beloved establishment.”

For more information, contact Steve Woodford at Haslams via Steve.woodford@haslams.net.