Eyed as a Cotswold gem, a successful Grade II-listed Cirencester hotel has gone onto the market at just £295,000 – though the economic smallprint will make important reading.

The price is for the leasehold on the handsome mid-1600s property and hotel sales specialists Colliers, who are handling the sale from their Bristol office, say the 15-bedroomed business is "accommodation-lead" and just five minutes' walk from the centre of the town.

Net sales for the year ending February 29 yielded £1,016,000, from which a trading profit of £139,000 was recorded.

The hotel fronts onto Gloucester Street and - uniquely for the town centre's hotels - has parking and gardens to its rear. Guest capacity stands at 30, while the owners' accommodation has been converted into bedsit provision for staff. Eleven of the guest rooms have walk-in showers while all have en suites and extra beds can be added to three of the rooms.

A bar and lounge area seats 30 while the restaurant has 60 covers.

Peter Brunt, director of Colliers Hotel said: "It is thought to date back to the mid-17th century but has been much altered and extended over the years. A Georgian façade was added and a Victorian extension at the rear as well as a restaurant in the 20th century and a reception area added in 2010.

"A carriage arch is evidence of its role in days gone by, but nowadays it operates as a fully licensed hotel generating a healthy level of turnover, with excellent profits from a good mix of wet, dry and accommodation trade."

The current owners, David and Julie Sherriff, are understood to have acquired the business in March 2021 as a debut hotel venture. At the time, the 20-year lease of the Corinium Hotel is understood to have been taken on from a guide price of £250,000.

The Sheriffs subsequently refurbished the bedrooms and kitchens and improved marketing, with the result, says Colliers, of marked sales and room rate growth.

Explaining the sale, Mr Brunt added: "Following an inheritance, [the vendors] have decided to bring forward retirement and fulfill a number of personal aspirations and opportunities".

The price for the property also includes fittings and fixtures, although any prospective buyer will need to weigh up the lease smallprint: under the terms of a fully repairing and insuring clause, an annual rent of £83,000 (or £6,916 a month) will be payable.

The lease was granted for 20 years in March 2021, with a rent review scheduled for March 2026.

To weigh against that commitment, the latest detailed accounts for the hotel show £1,016,578 net sales, with a net profit of £138,935 being arrived at after the £83,000 rent payment, but before depreciation, directors' salary, key man insurance and interest payments were factored in.

Mr Brunt added: "Revenue has grown each year of my clients' ownership and over 40% of the revenue comes from room sales, which assists in the excellent profitability".

Aggregated feedback on Tripadvisor places the Corinium as third among Cirencester's top 10 hotels, while visitor reviews award the venue 4.0 out of 5, ranking it "very good".