Although selling agents CB Richard Ellis were unwilling to reveal the exact price paid, market sources believe the 70bedroom hotel and leisure club situated on a 29-acre site fetched well over the quoted price.

The four-star Glenview is one of Leinster's leading wedding, function and conference venues. The bedrooms include executive rooms and a penthouse suite featuring a private lounge.

The hotel leisure club has over 2,000 members. Facilities include a state-of-the-art gymnasium, 18-metre deck pool, sauna, steam room, whirlpool, juice bar and newlyopened beauty/therapy treatment rooms.

While some more development is anticipated on the site . . . subject to planning permission . . . a spokesman for CB Richard Ellis stressed that this would take place only within the context of the premises' primary function as a hotel.

Essentially it's an hotel and it has been bought as an hotel.

It's a sensitive site and while you will get some additional development . . . potentially . . .

alongside the hotel, that will most likely be for hotel uses."

Located on an elevated, panoramic, 29-acre site at Glen of the Downs and close to the growing suburban centres of south Dublin, Bray, Delgany and Greystones, the Glenview is highly visible, overlooking the N11 dual carriageway, one of the country's busiest arterial routes.