THE new owner of a prestigious West Wight hotel has revealed how 'excited' he is about the project.

Entrepreneur Howard Spooner signed a three-year lease on Monday, with a right to buy, to take over The George Hotel, Yarmouth, from Dame Dianne Thompson, the former chief executive of the National Lottery.

The hotel will open its doors again on Saturday following a couple of weeks of redecoration with more changes to come.

Mr Spooner was a partner with Guy Pelly, a childhood friend of Princes William and Harry, and had nightclubs in Chelsea, Fulham, Clapham and Hammersmith and currently has several businesses on the mainland.

He said: "I'm really excited. With any of these things there is a lot to do when you start.

"We will be open on Saturday and have redecorated all the public spaces with the entrance hall, lighting, toilets, bars and furniture completely revamped.

"Shortly, the restaurant to the left as you enter the hotel will become a lounge with television with a private dining area to seat 50, which will be a cut above a gastro pub.

"We will also be introducing a proper bar into the conservatory.

"There will be a cocktail bar with a mixologist bartender with a comprehensive list of cocktails as well as a gin bar and huge selection of wines on show.

"We will be bringing in more support for our head chef and I have had a big part with the menus, which will be going down the brasserie route, a bit like The Ivy.

"There is still lots to do and, once we are open, we will start on the garden area to change that around before Easter."

Dame Dianne, who has owned the 17-bedroom hotel for nearly five years and spent £1.5million on refurbishing it, said: "This is a marriage made in heaven.

"I have done the infrastructure including the refurbishment of the bedrooms, new boilers and the joists which needed to be done.

"Howard can now move it on and make it a fun place and a great venue for all customers."