A FORMER nightclub mogul and friend of Prince Harry has won his High Court battle over The George Hotel in Yarmouth.

Howard Spooner has won a case to decide control over the luxury Isle of Wight hotel.

Sally Johnson, former weather presenter and ex-wife of former Conservative MP David Faber, had brought a claim over half the share in the hotel, disputing that an agreement had been made to return this to Mr Spooner.

Judge Sebastian Prentis ruled in favour of Mr Spooner, finding that an agreement had been reached between Mr Spooner and Mrs Johnson to sell her share.

Howard Spooner, owner of The George Hotel, said Mrs Johnson had agreed to leave the business in July 2020, and he had suffered personally and financially due to the subsequent fall-out.

He said this week: "I am pleased I am now able to put this whole episode behind me and focus on improving the service that The George provides to visitors.”

Russell Strong, Partner at Greenwoods, representing Mr Spooner, said his client had "maintained from the beginning a version of events that the court found to be truthful.”

The venture between Mr Spooner and Mrs Johnson began over a pheasant shoot in 2019, the court heard.

A subsequent hotel revamp was partly bankrolled by Mrs Johnson's millionaire husband, Charles 'Brook' Johnson, and it was hoped they could bring in a well-heeled crowd to the George, including 'old rockers', yachtsmen, polo players and 'many powerful Americans', the court heard.

The failure of any of these guests materialising was a factor in the breakdown of the business relationship between Mr Spooner and Mrs Johnson.

There was also a previously documented fall-out over £85,000 worth of furniture.

In the high court case, the judge backed Mr Spooner's account, that Mrs Johnson had agreed to sell her share of the hotel to Mr Spooner on July 2 as the financial impact of Covid 19 began to bite, but later changed her mind as the hospitality trade picked up.

Mr Spooner is known as a friend of Prince Harry. He was also in business previously with Guy Pelly, a nightclub promoter and well-known friend of the prince.