The Portland Hotel, a Grade II-listed building in Southsea, Portsmouth, dating back to 1847, and known most recently as the popular Havana Bar, is to go under the hammer of Clive Emson Auctioneers on July 24 with a guide price of between £1.4m and £1.6m.

The five-storey property comes with planning permission for residential flats or to be turned into a boutique hotel.

The building, currently disused at 38 Kent Road, Southsea, is among 22 lots being sold by Clive Emson, the regional land and property auctioneers.

Rob Marchant, auctioneer, said: “We’ve been instructed by the private owner to sell The Portland Hotel. A heritage treasure here in Hampshire, Portland has a proud history but has lain empty for too long now.

“There is clearly development potential — new life could be breathed into the property, either as a hotel or conversion into residential flats.

“The importance of redevelopment locally has been recognised by the planning inspector, with planning permission granted on appeal for 16 flats in the main building and for six new-build flats and a commercial unit on the rear car park, all in keeping with the conservation area.

“There is also the green light for this wonderful heritage asset to trade once again as a hotel following complete refurbishment.

“This is a rare opportunity for a sympathetic developer to do justice to the legacy of Thomas Ellis Owen, the ‘father of Southsea’ who designed the hotel, or for someone with the vision to create a wonderful boutique hotel. We anticipate keen interest, with viewings by appointment only.”

The Hotel was a project of architect Thomas Ellis Owen and completed in 1847, the year the Factory Act established a maximum 10-hour working day for women and for boys aged 13 to 18.

Owen wanted the hotel, which then had uninterrupted views to the Isle of Wight, to be at the heart of his development of Southsea as an ‘elegant and civilised retreat for senior naval officers, the middle classes and newly rich entrepreneurs’.

Starting at 11am, the auction takes place at the Ageas Bowl, near Southampton, on Thursday, July 24. Find out more here