GWENT'S historic Cwrt Bleddyn hotel has been sold to a Monaco-based businessman for an undisclosed sum, believed to be in the region of several million pounds.

And the sale marks the end of the long-running connection with Gwent of the well-known cab-aret club owner George Savva who is retiring and planning to move to Cyprus.

Mr Savva is stepping down as manager of the Cwrt Bleddyn, a former manor house which dates back to the 14th century, which was owned by his daughter Jayne Lewis and her husband, David, who also run a large civil engineering company.

Mr Savva, who counts the likes of Cliff Richard and Shirley Bassey among his friends, founded the legendary Savva's Club in Usk in the late 1980s after a successful career managing cabaret venues in Luton and Windsor.

It was the late Bob Monkhouse who persuaded Mr Savva to write his autobiography, For Whom the Stars Came Out At Night, which was published last year.

International businessman Paul Free-man from Peter-borough is the Cwrt Bleddyn's new owner, taking over the reins of the hotel in Llangybi between Caerleon and Usk which was once owned by Richard Branson's Virgin company in the 1990s.

Mr Savva and his wife, Pam, will now retire to Cyprus but will spend part of the year in Gwent with their daughter and son-in-law.

Jayne Lewis said her father's age and severe workload was one of the major reasons why they decided to sell the property.

She said: "We are very sad to have sold Cwrt Bleddyn as we've had some very happy times there but we think it's the right decision at this stage in my family's life.

"Paul Freeman is a super bloke and we wish him all the best with the business."

The move comes a week after David Lewis' company announced a major deal to become the title sponsors of the Newport Gwent Dragons from next season, taking over from the club's backer Tony Brown's company Bisley.

The company name, David Lewis Civil Engineering, will appear on the Dragons' home and away jerseys during the year-long deal.