AN historic hotel renowned as the closest to the Severn Bridge and with links to US rock musician Bob Dylan has been put up for sale.

Local folklore has it that the 16-bedroom Old Ferry Inn at Beachley, which is almost underneath the suspension bridge and alongside the former Aust Ferry slipway, played host to the US musician during his most contentious ‘Judas Tour’.

Bob Dylan was famously pictured on the slipway at Aust on the front of his album ‘No Direction Home’ after a gig in Bristol in May 1966 on his way to perform in Cardiff.

The 25-year-old Dylan is rumoured to have looked in at The Old Ferry Inn, Beachley, on his way to the Cardiff concert, infamous for him switching from acoustic to electric guitar half way through the gig and sending folk purists into paroxysms.

The Old Ferry Inn, in Beachley, Gloucestershire, is set in 1.1 acres of land including a large car park and gardens. It is being sold by Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions with a guide price of between £260,000 and £300,000.

The inn is close to Beachley army barracks, the former Army Apprentices College, which is home to the 1st Battalion the Rifles.

The inn has a 90-cover restaurant and pub. It is set over three floors and has uninterrupted views out over the River Severn.

The Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA), a voluntary organisation, has its headquarters close by and uses the slipway to launch its rescue craft.

Matt Jordan, of Paul Fosh Auctions, said: “The Old Ferry Inn, which is on a large site, offers massive potential. In view of the impending abolition of the tolls on the Severn Bridges at the end of the year it could be an extremely attractive opportunity either to be operated as a going concern with more people likely to be attracted to the area or, subject to planning, to be developed for alternate uses.

“Externally, there is a large car park occupying the northern end of the site and a grassed garden area to the southern end of the site.

"The town of Chepstow is three miles away and the village of Sedbury even closer with the attractions of the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley AONB on its doorstep. The M48 is close by with links to Cardiff to the west and Bristol, to the east.”

“We are advised the property would be suitable for C1 (Hotels), A3 (Restaurants and Cafes) and A4 (Drinking Establishments) under the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987.

"Furthermore, the site offers a number of potential redevelopment opportunities including residential as part of a mixed use scheme (subject to the necessary consents).”

The Old Ferry Inn is for sale at Paul Fosh Auctions at the The Park Inn Hotel, Cardiff, on Thursday, June 14, starting at 5pm.