THE Posthouse Hotel at High Wycombe's Handy Cross has new owners.

It is one of 79 hotels in the Posthouse portfolio which has been bought for a total of £810 million by the Bass group, the company which also has an interest in the new four-star hotel about to be built on land adjoining Marlow bypass.

The 109 bedroom Posthouse at Wycombe, previously owned by the Compass Group, is likely to become a Holiday Inn once Bass has completed a review of the new acquisitions.

A spokeswoman at the Bass headquarters in Windsor said it was too early to say if any changes would be made.

Last week, Mango Hotels, part of Glasgow-based BDL Hotels, announced a franchise deal with Bass to develop the £20 million hotel on Marlow's Gravel Pits site as an addition to the 140-strong Crowne Plaza chain.

The new 168-bedroom hotel will include function rooms and conference facilities.

The ground floor boardroom for the use of business guests will be equipped with plasma screens, conference phones and ISDN lines. The six private meeting rooms incorporated in the first-floor conference suite will be furnished with black leather, chrome light fittings and sleek chairs.

Other facilities include outdoor hot tubs and a leisure club with blue mosaic tiled swimming pool, sauna and steam room, aerobics studio, gymnasium, two beauty rooms and "drench" showers with a drench model you get double the usual power.

Three restaurants are included in the plans a coffee bar, bistro and restaurant with views over a lake.

Christine Davey, marketing consultant for Mango Hotels, says the hotel is scheduled to open next summer. "I tell you, when I'm sitting in a hot tub overlooking the lake, sipping champagne, I'll know I've made it," she said.