HAMPSHIRE’S oldest golf course and a nearby pub have been put on the market for more than

£4.5 million as its owner – a member of one of the county’s richest families – is moving abroad.

Robert Crosthwaite Eyre is selling Bramshaw Golf Club and the adjacent Bell Inn in the New Forest village of Brooke and is asking for offers between £4.5 and £4.7 million.

The Bell, described as a 28-bedroom Listed gastro pub, has been owned and operated by the Crosthwaite Eyre family for over 230 years, making it one of the oldest family-owned inns in Hampshire.

Bramshaw Golf Club has two 18-hole courses – the par 69 Forest, which is the oldest in Hampshire, dating back to 1865, and the Manor (par 71) which was opened by the Crosthwaite Eyre family in 1972.

Mr Crosthwaite Eyre said: “After taking the business over from my family 10 years ago, I have thoroughly enjoyed running the Bell Inn and Bramshaw Golf Club. I am so proud to see how it has grown as a business, and how much we have achieved. I very much hope the new owner will enjoy building the company as much as we have.’

The sale is being handled by golf property specialists HMH Golf and regional hotel specialist IHCA.

Ben Allen of HMH said: “Bramshaw Golf Club is a unique facility. The two golf courses offer totally contrasting playing experiences, and each is rather special in its own way. The club enjoys the support of over 1,000 members and benefits from strong daily fee income. The club and inn businesses achieve a combined turnover approaching £2,400,000 per annum (excluding franchised clubhouse food and beverage revenue).”

Andrew Theobold of IHCA said: “The character and charm of this highly reputable Inn will offer the purchaser an unrivalled opportunity to build on a highly successful year round business set in the heart of the New Forest National Park.”

The Crosthwaite Eyre family has strong links to the New Forest, and used to own the Eyre & Spottiswood publishing group. That became part of a publishing giant, ABP, in the 1960s. ABP in turn was taken over in 1987, netting Anthony Crosthwaite-Eyre, who was deputy chairman at the time, and his family £63m.

The family’s Brooke Enterprises also owned Dunwood Manor Golf Club, near Romsey, which they shut and sold in 2012.

Robert’s relative Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre is a former Official Verderer of the New Forest and is chairman of the New Forest National Park Authority.