most prestigious hotels.

James Sherwood's company issued the bid to Granada, which last year took over British hotel chain Forte, the Mail on Sunday said yesterday.

The four hotels include Brown's in London, a favourite of aristocrats and statesmen for more than a century. The others are Rome's Eden Hotel, the Plaza Athene me in Paris and Madrid's Ritz.

The four are among 17 exclusive hotels put up for sale by Granada after its 3.7 billion takeover of Forte last year.

Also up for sale are the Belmont Hotel and the Harmony Club in Bermuda. -- Bloomberg