Business owners in a busy Nottingham area fear the long term impact of losing trade following the closure of a popular hotel.
The community in Lenton have told of their heartbreak as the Walton Hotel on North Road has reportedly been shut since the beginning of the first lockdown in 2020.
A letting sign has since been put up on its fence, and it is currently under offer as a "prime hotel and development opportunity".
But Many are hopeful for what the future of the site might bring.
Claire Robert, who works at the Toast cafe just across the street, said: "It is really sad news.
"When they stopped selling breakfast, they would send their customers here.
"We had menus in their rooms and everything.
"I think it is a loss to the area, definitely.
"It has been closed since the first lockdown and it is a real shame."
She added: "If another hotel takes over, that would be good - but we do not know what is happening with it right now."
John Skindzier, said he used to work at the hotel's restaurant a few years back and added: "It is not a good sign that a popular hotel like this one has shut.
"It used to have many events, and people would go there for the food and drinks - it is really sad."
The unemployed 58-year-old, who lives in Lenton, added: "It was a nice addition to this area - something different."
Yvette Moore, who runs Art of Flowers on Derby Road, said: "It really is a shame.
"It used to be such a great place and I used to go there for drinks."
Speaking about the future of the property in the Park area which used to bring footfall in Lenton, the owner added: "They used to hold weddings in there and then we would help with floral arrangements."
She added: "I do not mind if it will be replaced by another hotel - but I just hope it will not be turned into student apartments because that is the last thing we need in the area."
Kate Loewenthal, the chairwoman of the Lenton Drive and Neighbours Residents' Association, has also voiced her concerns about the future of the property, adding: "If this building will turn into student accommodation it would be the worst decision ever.
"This hotel helped the area because it maintained a balance - the area is over-saturated with students anyway.
"Now with another student accommodation on Derby Road it would just be dreadful."
She added: "I used to go there, and it was a lovely place in Lenton - it is a real shame that it had to close."
But when we asked residents about the potential for another hotel in the future, Sim Clarke, a 20-year-old student who lives in the area, said: "Maybe it could work because in The Park Estate there are people who are more upper-class.
"But a community centre or something that would benefit everyone would work better I think."
Dan Flisk, a second year student at Nottingham Trent University, agreed.
The 19-year-old said: "There are so many students in the area, so I do not see why we would need a hotel here.
"A community centre would be so much better."
However, Paula Cullington, a second year journalist student at Nottingham Trent University, said: "I think it would be a great idea to turn it into affordable student flats because there are a lot of students in the area."
The 19-year-old added: "I think it is quite a deprived area, so I do not see why people would come and stay here if it was a hotel."
Her course-mate Maisie Edmond, 20, agreed.
She said: "It would be great to have some more apartments for students - I do not see how a hotel would work here."
Another journalism student Lucie Carotenuto, 20, said: "I just cannot imagine a hotel in an area where there is a big student population."
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