SAF: The five-star, 12-bedroom boutique property has been sold at a public auction, although not as an operational entity.
Located on 167 Oxford Road in Rosebank, the two-storey Monarch Hotel is part of The Mantis Collection.
Originally home to the Rosebank Telephone Exchange, the building is a blue plaque heritage property.
Joshua Pelkowitz, executive director at WH Auctioneers Properties, said: “Due to the heritage status, the front portion of the building and facade must be retained, however, the rear portion of the property can be demolished and redeveloped.”
“They [the relevant council of heritage] are all happy to work together with the new buyer to try and work out a way of getting through any inherent heritage issues that the building may or may not have.”
The historic property has a presidential suite, and hosted Ghana’s president John Evans Atta Mills during the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
On the ground floor the hotel has a reception area and lobby, seven suites, a dining room, kitchen, cigar room and board room.
The first floor includes five suites and an office space.
