LAST orders have been called on a Newport city centre pub after it was sold at auction.

The Alexandra Inn, on Commercial Road, in Pill, could now be converted for commercial and residential use after being sold last week by Paul Fosh Auctions.

The historic four-storey property at 89 Commercial Road sold for £146,500 after being listed with a guide of £95,000 plus with Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions.

The former pub was previously sold by a different auction house in March last year for £110,000 but came back on the market.

Sean Roper, who handled the sale for Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions, said: “The interest in the former public house before and during the sale was quite phenomenal.

"We must have had at least 20 different interested parties view the pub prior to auction.

"A fair few of these local investors, entrepreneurs and business people were at the auction last Thursday bidding against each other to buy the property.

“The property could now most likely be converted for mixed commercial and residential use, with commercial on the ground floor and perhaps HMO (house of multiple occupation) or flats on the floors above.

“The Alexandra Inn is a substantial freehold building which offers generous accommodation over four floors.

"It’s situated in the up and coming historic area of Pill which has been the subject of much investment and regeneration over recent years.

“The building retains many character features both inside and outside.

"Surprisingly it’s in very good condition having been re roofed about 10 years ago with double glazing installed throughout.

“This sale is a further example of the growing and sustained interest that there is from investors and speculators in property of all sorts in the city of Newport.”

The next Paul Fosh Auctions sale, the last of the year, is on Thursday, December 6, at The Park Inn Hotel, Llanedeyrn, Cardiff, starting at 5pm.