The Hotel Du Vin chain has been sold for £66.4 million.

Robin Hutson and Grard Basset, who founded the company in 1994, have struck a deal with Marylebone Warwick Balfour (MWB), owners of the Malmaison hotel chain.

The takeover increases MWB's investment in the hotel industry to 15 properties and makes it one of the leading players in the boutique or lifestyle sector.

Hotel du Vin has six small hotels, including one in Ship Street, Brighton.

The hotels' rooms are individually designed and sponsored by wine companies and cost about £100 a night.

All the hotels also have a bistro restaurant and a prominent wine cellar and organise wine-related events.

The Brighton hotel has become a firm favourite with celebrities since it opened in 2002 with a star-studded party, including Ben Elton, David Ginola, Norman Cook and Zoe Ball.

More than £6 million was spent transforming the former Bar Centro site, with its collection of part Gothic-styled buildings, into a hotel with 37 stylish bedrooms and suites Mr Hutson said: "We always said we would sell in two to three years' time but when MWB approached us in November last year it seemed like the right thing, not just financially but also because it was the right fit. They are keeping all our staff, which is important to us, and they are not going to turn it into something horrendous.

"I'm not the type of person to sit on a deckchair in the sun for too long but once I have overseen the launch of the new hotel in Henley I'm going to take a well-earned break.

"The last nine months working on the deal have been a whirlwind."

Mr Hutson and Mr Basset will be leaving the company after the takeover. Both signed agreements not to become involved in competing ventures.

Shareholders who stand to gain from the sale include the founders of the Body Shop, Gordon and Anita Roddick.

The company's biggest shareholder, with about 34 per cent, is Ashley Levett, one of the traders at the centre of the Sumitomo copper trading scandal, who will receive more than £10 million for his stake.

MWB is funding the acquisition through a £167.5 million bank facility provided by Bank of Scotland, secured against the enlarged Malmaison and Hotel du Vin business.