A much-loved Grade-II building in the centre of Bradford on Avon could become an upmarket restaurant or bistro after being sold for £331,000 at auction.

The former tearooms and restaurant, known locally as The Three Gables, in St Margaret’s Street was bought at the auction, held at The Swan Hotel on Wednesday, by builder Mike Burbidge, on behalf of Howard Booty, who wants to start renovation work in spring 2010 to turn the building into a wine bar, restaurant or bistro, which he will let out.

Organised by Crisp Cowley on behalf of solicitors Burroughs Day, the auction was not without controversy, however, when Gary Hollis, the son of the previous owner, the late Mavis Hollis, advised those attending that the four-bedroom home was still at the centre of a long-running legal wrangle over its ownership.

Among the crowds turning up to see the building sold off was Bradford resident Pat Leo, who lived there with her parents Ted and Doris in the 1960s. “I lived there for five years when I first came down to Bradford,” she said “It’s old but it’s not creepy or anything. My parents ran it as a sweet shop and cafe and once they went away on holiday and I was left there on my own and just loved it.”

James Vincent’s grandparents Jim King and Ivy (nee Stafford) were the first couple to have their wedding reception at The Three Gables on March 28, 1932 after it was opened by the Scrine family earlier that year.

“I am a Bradford on Avon boy and want to see what happens to this building,” said Mr Vincent, who owns Avonfield Gardens Nursery in Holt Road.

“I am glad Mike has got it now. Hopefully he is going to sort it out and I am sure he will be sympathetic to the building. It is always a joke in Bradford on Avon that when a shop changes hands they say it will be an antiques shop or estate agents.

“Knowing Mike and the developer, they have a good eye for detail and it will probably be more photographed when it is finished.

“It is good news, things are looking up in Bradford on Avon at last, what with Kingston Mills being developed at last as well.”