UK Pubs For Sale - UK Freehold Pubs For Sale

Huddersfield Pub for Sale, Pub for Sale West Yorkshire

2012-02-13T03:41:00.001-08:00

Leasehold Pub For Sale In Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

Ship Inn
Market Street
Paddock, Huddersfield
West Yorkshire
HD1

Gross Site Area: 7106 sq/ft*

£ 325,000 + VAT
Leasehold

LOCATION
The Ship can be found on the corner of Market Street and School Lane. Situated on a mixed commercial and residential street. The property is approximately 1 mile from Lockwood Rail Station and 1.3 miles from Huddersfield Rail Station.

PROPERTY
Prominent corner plot detached building. Offers parking and outdoor seating area.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 7,106 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 2,391 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £5,750
Offers invited for our clients unencumbered interest

Lease length: Long Leasehold, 999 years from 1868 @ £10pa

Pub for Sale West Yorkshire, Huddersfield Pub for Sale

Stockport Hotel For Sale,Cheshire

2012-02-12T04:16:00.001-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Romily, Cheshire

Cherry Tree Hotel
Romiley
Stockport
Greater Manchester
SK6

Gross Site Area: 26834 sq/ft*

£ 385,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The Cherry Tree Pub can be found on Compstall Road (B6104) at its junction with Cherry Tree Lane and offers excellent access to local amenities in Romiley Village.

The property is Ideally located near to Romiley Golf club,cricket club,schools and train station at Romiley

PROPERTY
Detached freehold property with good size garden and carpark.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 26,834 sq ft*
Rateable Value: £14,225
Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.

The property represents excellent value for continued licensed use / owner occupation.

There is also enormous potential for redevelopment (residential / commercial / mixed use) subject to gaining the appropriate Local Authority consents.

The existing use class of the property is A4 'Drinking Establishments'. Planning consent is not required to change the current use to A1 (shops), A2 (financial and professional services) or A3 (restaurants and cafes).

Please note that VAT is applicable in this matter.

Cheshire Freehold Pub and Hotel for Sale

Rural Pubs Get Support from Pub is The Hub

2012-02-11T04:29:00.000-08:00

A scheme to help rural Cornish pubs stave off extinction has been launched at a pub near Padstow.

Pub is The Hub launched its Local Community Services Champions initiative to a packed meeting of more than 60 people at The Cornish Arms in St Merryn.

The initiative aims to support pub operators and owners who want to diversify to boost their takings.

The event highlighted where publicans can go for advice, support and, where appropriate, funding to get through the tough economic climate.

Ideas tried by other pubs include post offices, shops, libraries, internet cafés, allotment schemes, school dinner clubs, lunch clubs for the elderly, cash machines and provision of IT training and meeting rooms.

A speaker at the event, Bob Semple, opened a post office at his pub, The Tree Inn at Stratton near Bude, in 2009 after the village post office closed.

"The goodwill that we generated from the scheme was terrific," he said. "Although hard to measure in monetary terms – the post office breaks even – the rewards have been unexpected with people who had used the post office and have since been back for a pub meal. We really feel as though we're right in the heart of the community."

The meeting was also told pubs play a vital role for vulnerable people over 50 who can often become isolated in rural communities.

"This is especially true when a partner dies," said Nigel Clark, from Age UK in Cornwall.

The chief executive of Pub is The Hub, John Longden, urged publicans interested in branching out to contact the organisation: "We'd love to speak to any good licensees in Cornwall who are considering the option of diversification – and even those who have never thought of it before.

"We are ideally placed to advise on ideas, funding and carrying what we aim to be around 30 projects through to completion," he said.

Pub is The Hub, a not-for-profit organisation, was founded in 2001 by HRH the Prince of Wales.

The scheme encourages local authorities, communities, licensees, pub owners and breweries to work together to support, retain and locate services within rural pubs.

It also helps with guidance on funding, and getting the new projects off the ground.

If you are a licensee of a pub in a rural area and you feel that you may be able to provide some community services or facilities, please get in touch with us by phone or email and we will arrange for a local adviser to contact you (our advice is free of charge)
For more information, visit Community Champions

Sunderland Pub for Sale, Freehold

2012-02-10T04:36:00.001-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Sunderland, Tyne and Wear

Wear Tavern ( Formerly Pallion )
St. Lukes Terrace
Sunderland
Tyne and Wear
SR4

Gross Site Area: 4479 sq/ft*

£ 200,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The Pallion (Wear Tavern) is located on a large corner plot on the busy junction of St. Lukes Terrace and Mid Moor Road. The property fronts a busy commercial road but the area is mixed commercial and residential. Both the Royal Hospital and Universtiy are close by. Pallion Rail station is approximately 0.38miles from the site and Sunderland Rail 1.3miles away.

PROPERTY
Large brick building. Ground floor comprises a two bar operation. There is a small kitchen facility. We are advised that the private owners accommodation to the upper parts is of a large size. Please contact Nick at Paramount to arrange a viewing 020 7644 2321 .

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 4,479 sq ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate:.4,280 sq ft*
Rateable Value: £9,100

Tyne and Wear Pub for Sale, Sunderland

Argoed Pub for Sale Gwent, Wales

2012-02-08T04:12:00.001-08:00

Gwent Pub and Land For Sale

Sirhowy Arms Hotel
High Street
Argoed
Gwent
NP12

Gross Site Area: 32000 sq/ft*

£ 610,000

LOCATION
The Sirhowy Arms Hotel can be found on High Street, Argoed close to Blackwood and Caerphilly. The property is situated in a predominantly residential area.

PROPERTY
The Sirhowy Arms is a three storey building currently comprising 11 bedrooms and public house and currently holds an HMO licence. The property benefits from a large car park (16 spaces) with additional parking available on site for 9 spaces. This freehold sale includes the Sirhowy Arms Hotel, a large amount of land to either side and the rear of the hotel, and a 2 bedroom cottage. Site area 32,513 sq.ft

Full planning permission has been granted to convert the hotel to 16 self contained flats as follows:
Ground floor - 5 x 1 bed & 1 x 2 bed
First floor - 5 x 1 bed
Second floor - 5 x 1 bed

The property has recently undergone complete refurbishment including, new windows, external rendering and landscape gardening

There was outline planning granted for x4 3bed semi-detached houses to the rear of the hotel which has now lapsed. Please call for more information.

Freehold Pub with land For Sale Gwent

Pubs are vital to UK economy and community, think tank report concludes

2012-02-07T04:32:00.000-08:00

“Pubs are perceived by people to be the most important social institution for promoting interactions between people from different walks of life,” explains the report’s author, Rick Muir.

Benefits of traditional pubs, which the IPPR’s Pubs and Places: the social value of community pubs report cautions are increasingly under threat from societal and global economic changes, far outweigh those of other establishments for a number of reasons, as Muir again summaries in the report:

“Pubs inject an average of £80,000 into their local economy each  year. Pubs add more value to local economies than beer sold through shops and supermarkets, simply because they generate more jobs. Beer sold through pubs also generates more funding for the public purse than beer sold through the ‘off trade’.“

As bastions of British heritage that perform crucial business and community functions across the UK, the social cost and economic cost of permitting the decline to continue is not justifiable.

There could be a number of incentive undertaken by government and by publicans to stem the decline.

Given the importance of their social function, they could theoretically be extended financial perks reserved for third sector organisations, including grants and tax breaks, Muir explains.

“The relationship between the large pub companies and their  tenants should be rebalanced,” writes Muir. “Pub companies with more than 500 pubs offering commercial FRI leases over a period of time to provide flexibility to lessees including a guest beer option and an option to become free of ‘tie’ accompanied by an open market rent review. There should be a single stronger and more comprehensive code of practice supported by an independently constituted adjudicator with the ability to provide redress to lessees where the code is breached. “

Alcohol could also be lowered, or at least structured in a way that would allow lucrative city centre bars to continue paying high rates of tax at the same time as allowing ailing yet vital community drinking establishments to pay a lower amount.

Fresh Business thinking

Blaenau Ffestiniog Pub for Sale, Gwynedd

2012-02-05T03:55:00.000-08:00

Pub with Development Land for Sale, Gwynedd

White Lion
Trawsfynydd
Blaenau Ffestiniog
Gwynedd
LL41

Ground floor footplate: 2315 sq/ft*

£ 90,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
Trawsfynydd is a pleasant village with a variety of shops and local amenities. The area is popular for walking and within just a few miles of the Mountain Biking Centre of Coed y Brenin. The A470 is also close by.

ALL OFFERS INVITED - Public house/development land for sale with full vacant possession. Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.

The property represents excellent value for continued licensed use / owner occupation. There is also enormous potential for redevelopment (residential / commercial / mixed use) subject to gaining the appropriate Local Authority consents.

The existing use class of the property is A4 'Drinking Establishments'. Planning consent is not required to change the current use to A1 (shops), A2 (financial and professional services) or A3 (restaurants and cafes).

Rateable Value: £4,500

Please note that VAT may be applicable in this matter.

Pub and Development Land for Sale Blaenau Ffestiniog

Alfreton Freehold Pub For Sale

2012-02-04T09:59:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Alfreton, Derbyshire

Station
Mansfield Road
Alfreton
Derbyshire
DE55

Gross Site Area: 7755 sq/ft*

£ 275,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The Station Hotel occupies a prominent position on a corner plot on Mansfield Road in Alfreton. The property is under half a mile from Alfreton Railway Station and is in close proximity to the M1 motorway providing excellent transport links.

PROPERTY
Large two storey brick building with good size car park accessible via Parkin Street.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 7,755 sq ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 3,494 sq ft*
Rateable Value: £5,900

Derbyshire Pub for Sale, Alfreton

Danesmoor Pub for Sale, Chesterfield, Derbyshire

2012-02-03T09:53:00.000-08:00

Chesterfield Pub for Sale

Greyhound
Cemetery Road
Danesmoor, Chesterfield
Derbyshire
S45

Gross Site Area: 11626 sq/ft*

£ 95,000 + VAT
Freehold

Public house/development land for sale with full vacant possession. Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.

Located within easy access for the A61 and minuets drive from Chesterfield town centre

Semi-detached building comprising on site a beer patio with smoking solution. There is a garage to the rear. There is also a car park on site.
Ground floor comprises lounge and bar.
Private accommodation comprises a lounge, kitchen, bathroom and 3 bedrooms to the upper parts.

Derbyshire Pub for Sale, Chesterfield

Pub Landlord Suspended for Serving Pints 'Too Full'

2012-02-02T04:45:00.000-08:00

In a move likely to infuriate beer lovers around the world, landlord and landlady Peter and Debbie Gibson have been suspended for serving pints ‘too full’ of beer.

Peter and Debbie, who have run the Junction Inn in Greater Manchester, England, for 12 years were ordered to close the pub on New Year’s Eve of all days, the Mirror reports.

Brewery owner Humphrey Smith showed up and, in front of all the customers, told the Gibsons that he was shutting the Junction Inn because the heads on the pints of beer were not big enough.

The couple said they were told they owed brewing firm Samuel Smith $15,859 in lost stock for topping up costumers’ beers.

Horwich Pub for Sale Bolton

2012-02-01T09:44:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Horwich, Bolton

Victoria
Chorley New Road
Horwich, Bolton
Greater Manchester
BL6

Gross Site Area: 7545 sq/ft*

£ 300,000 + VAT Freehold

LOCATION
Victoria can be found on the corner of Chorley New Road (A673) and Arkwright Street. Located in the popular town of Horwich which boasts beautiful countryside and is within close proximity to the M61 motorway.

PROPERTY
Large prominent 2 storey brick built property. Has a small car park behind a secure gate accessed via the front of the property.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 13,393 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 4,333 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £17,750
Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest

Bolton pub for Sale, Greater Manchester

Expats In Australia Miss the Pub

2012-01-31T04:28:00.000-08:00

The Telegraph reports that the British countryside is the thing most expats miss about home - followed by the country's sense of humour and pubs, a new survey claims. Our pubs are missed more by those living in Australia than in any other country.

Those living in the desert landscape of the United Arab Emirates long for the British countryside more than those in any other country, with 85 per cent selecting it as one of the three things they miss the most.

The survey by Lloyds TSB International shows that across all countries of residence, nearly half – 46 per cent – of expats miss the British countryside.

Our sense of humour was the second most missed aspect of life in Britain, chosen by 42 per cent, while our pubs were third, having been selected by 41 per cent of the 1,034 expats that were surveyed.

Britons now living in Germany miss the British sense of humour the most – 65 per cent – followed by those in Canada – 60 per cent – and South Africa – 54 per cent – while our pubs are missed more in Australia than in any other country.

The least missed aspects of life in the UK are our politics and the weather, which both collected only five per cent of expats’ votes.

Macclesfield Pub for Sale, Cheshire

2012-01-30T09:36:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Bollington, Cheshire

LOCATION
The Red Lion Pub can be found at the top of Bollington High Street at its junction with Chancery lane. Bollington has become a favourite destination for those working in both Manchester & Liverpool due to its accessible location and picturesque character.

PROPERTY
Detached freehold property with good size garden and side vehicular access. Ground floor accommodation comprises an open bar operation with a pool, darts and TV area for sports and games. There is also a catering kitchen on site. Private accommodation comprises 3 Bedroom, lounge, kitchen and bathroom.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Car park is leasehold until Dec 2012
Approx gross site area: 5,094 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 1,519 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £7,000
Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.

The property represents excellent value for continued licensed use / owner occupation. There is also potential for redevelopment (residential / commercial / mixed use) subject to gaining the appropriate Local Authority consents.

The Red Lion pub for Sale, Bollington, Macclesfield

Alton Pub for Sale Hampshire

2012-01-28T09:19:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Alton, Hampshire

Gentleman Jim
Raven Square
Alton
Hampshire
GU34

Gross Site Area: 13393 sq/ft*

£ 300,000 + VAT

LOCATION
Located in Hampshire on the outskirts of the town in Alton. There is easy access to the A31 and Altern Station and Altern Watercress station within a mile away.

PROPERTY
Semi detached, part single-storey part 2-storey building. Small Patio to the front property and some parking to the side and rear.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 13.393 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 4,333 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £7,250
Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.

The property represents excellent value for continued licensed use / owner occupation. There is also potential for redevelopment (residential / commercial / mixed use) subject to gaining the appropriate Local Authority consents.

Freehold Pub for Sale, Alton, Hampshire

Alcohol Minimum Pricing Will Have No Impact on Health

2012-01-27T01:19:00.000-08:00

The Government has introduced a ban on the sale of alcohol for less than cost price, which will come into force in England and Wales in April 2012.

The cross party consensus is that cut-price supermarket booze is a public order issue, is damaging to the nation’s collective health, and is also to the UK Pub Industry; Pubs are closing down of 6 pubs a week because they cannot hope to match the prices charged by supermarkets.

MP’s from all parties have demanded the end to the sale of cheap alcohol not only for the health of the nation, but also for the long term stability of their constituencies; they recognise that local pubs are often the de facto community centres for neighbourhoods and that low cost booze is the fuel for ‘wild west scenes’ in many town centres, every weekend.

Last year the Prime Minister had backed plans by ten councils in the North West to create a by-law making it illegal to sell alcohol for less than 50p a unit. However, the legislation proposed is for a lower minimum price of about 21p per unit of beer and 28p per unit of spirits.

Researchers at Sheffield University estimated last year that raising the price of alcohol to a minimum of 50p per unit would mean that after a decade there would be almost 3,000 fewer deaths every year and 41,000 fewer cases of chronic illness. However, a spokesman for Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said he had been reluctant to consider a minimum price per unit because it could be open to legal challenges relating to European competition law.

Opponents of a minimum unit price say it is unfair because it penalises all drinkers, not just those who cause or have problems.

Professor Ian Gilmore, of the Royal College of Physicians, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's a step in the right direction but I have to say, it's an extremely small step. It will have no impact whatsoever on the vast majority of cheap drinks sold in supermarkets."

As for the UK Pub Industry view, Paramount Investments spokesperson Steve Oliver said “The ban on low cost alcohol may just be a blessing in disguise to kick-start the pub industry in 2012. Even if the effects are only psychological and people get the message that Supermarket booze is no longer that cheap, it will be better than nothing.”

UK Pub Trade News

UK Pub, Bar & Hotel Directory
Paramount Magazine

Oxfordshire lost 35 pubs in 2011

2012-01-26T03:29:00.000-08:00

Thirty-five pubs closed in Oxfordshire last year, including 11 which will never reopen, the Campaign for Real Ale has said.

The British Beer and Pub Association said nationally 14 pubs closed every week, down from 52 a week in 2009.But the chief executive, Brigid Simmonds, said beer taxation was still a "big problem" for the industry.

She said: "We pay 40% of all beer tax in the whole of Europe and that is killing pubs."

The Lamb at Satwell just outside Nettlebed closed two weeks ago.Its co-owner Chris Smith said it was difficult to compete with the price of supermarket alcohol.

"You see the drinkers getting less and less all the time," he said.

Paul Clerehugh, from The Crooked Billet at nearby Stoke Row, said pubs were the most important part of the village and could be made to work.

"Pubs have got to be good to have any value to the community," he said.

Oxfordshire Pubs for Sale

Greene King Brewery Had Record Christmas

2012-01-25T03:17:00.000-08:00

Reuters reports; Pubs and brewery group Greene King enjoyed record Christmas, helped by better weather than last year, and predicted further growth in the coming year despite a tough consumer environment.

The 213-year-old Suffolk-based firm, which operates 2,410 pubs, restaurants and hotels across England, Wales and Scotland, said like-for-like retail sales rose 8.2 percent in the seven weeks to 15 January, boosted by an 11.1 percent rise in food sales and a record Christmas week when sales jumped 17 percent.

"It is clear that even in these difficult times, customers still look for enjoyment and some respite from the financial pressures they are facing," said Greene King Chief Executive Rooney Anand.

Britain's pubs are benefiting from increasing demand for casual dining as cash-strapped customers trade down from eating out at restaurants.

Greene King, whose brand include Hungry Horse, Old English Inns, Eating Inn and Loch Fyne Restaurants, said its overall profit, cashflow and balance sheet remained in line with expectations, but warned of tough trading conditions in 2012.

"Although we expect another difficult environment for the UK consumer in 2012, we remain confident that we will continue to deliver growth and value to our shareholders," Anand said.

In December the group said it expected to create 3,000 jobs in Britain over the next three years, including 2,000 apprenticeships for young people aged between 18 and 24.

Holywell Pub with Development Land for Sale, Flintshire

2012-01-24T02:59:00.000-08:00

Flintshire Freehold Pub and Development Land for Sale

Swan
Rhewl
Holywell
Flintshire
CH8

Gross Site Area: 24814 sq/ft*

£ 90,000 + VAT
Freehold

ALL OFFERS INVITED -Public house/development land for sale with full vacant possession. Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.

The property represents excellent value for continued licensed use / owner occupation. There is also enormous potential for redevelopment (residential / commercial / mixed use) subject to gaining the appropriate Local Authority consents.

The existing use class of the property is A4 'Drinking Establishments'. Planning consent is not required to change the current use to A1 (shops), A2 (financial and professional services) or A3 (restaurants and cafes).

Approx ground floor foot plate: 2,657 sq ft*

Rateable Value: £9,000

Please note that VAT may be applicable in this matter.

Public House With Land for Sale, Flintshire

Newtown Pub for Sale, Powys, Wales

2012-01-23T08:41:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Newtown, Powys

Sarn Inn
Sarn
Newtown
Powys
SY16

Gross Site Area: 15173 sq/ft*

£ 225,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The Sarn Inn can be found on the corner of the A489 and Lon Y Siop Road. Located in an attractive village only 6 miles from Newtown and 5 miles from the Shropshire Montgomertshire border. The immediate area is predominately residential. Commuteable to Shrewsbury, Welshpool, Newtown and Bishops Castle.

PROPERTY
Large detached 2 storey building. Site includes beer garden and car park to the rear.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 15,173 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 1,807 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £3,350
Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.

Sarn Inn Pub for Sale

The Salvation Army Seek Change of Use For Local Pub in Scunthoorpe

2012-01-22T05:42:00.000-08:00

Barton's historic Salvation Army citadel is up for sale as the organisation prepares to move to new premises.

The grade two listed building in Queen Street is on the market for £199,000 after the Salvation Army purchased the Carnival Inn building in Tofts Road.

The pub closed in December 2009 and has stood empty since then, although the Salvation Army won planning permission to change its use to a hall of worship in November of that year.

Captain Nick Cotterill, corps officer at the Salvation Army's Barton-Upon-Humber branch, said the 150-year-old Queen Street building, which has belonged to the organisation since the 1960s, was becoming too expensive to maintain.

He said: "We are looking to re-locate our church from Queen Street because the building is now costing us far too much money to maintain and keep as it is.

The move to the Carnival will provide the Salvation Army with dedicated parking facilities for the first time, as well as improving disabled access and providing more usable space.

At the time of the change of use application, rumours circulated about the possibility of the Carnival Inn building being used as a hostel by the Salvation Army, but Mr Cotterill insisted this would not be the case.

He said: "What we do in Queen Street is what we will do in Tofts Road. We will be moving our Sunday programme half a mile up the road."

East Anglia Pubs for Sale

Bradford pub for Sale, West Yorkshire Pub for Sale,

2012-01-21T08:34:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Low Moor, Bradford, West Yorkshire

Royal
New Works Road
Low Moor, Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD12

Ground floor footplate: 2475 sq/ft*

£ 165,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The property is situated in Low Moor a small village south of Bradford City. The Royal can be found on Wooller Road at its junctions with New Works Road. The area has excellent transport links to the M62/M1.

PROPERTY
The property is an end of terrace building over ground and first floors with brick elevations under a pitched tiled roof. There is a small yard at the rear and a car park to the front.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 3,830 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 2,475 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £3,450
Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.

The Royal pub for Sale, Bradford West Yorkshire

Minimum Alcohol Pricing Proposals No Help for Shops or Pubs

2012-01-20T01:16:00.000-08:00

In the same week the government announces its ban on below cost alcohol sales, Sainsbury's has cut the cost of some its ‘low alcohol’ wines and beers by a quarter on the cynical pretence, some might say, of encouraging a reduction of alcohol intake.

A minimum resale price of 50p-per-unit minimum was backed by health campaigners and might have levelled the playing field; corner shops and pubs may once again be able to compete with supermarkets on off-premises sales.

The proposed ban is based on a duty plus VAT rate, which sets the minimum cost for alcohol as follows;

£10.71 for a litre of vodka
38p for 440ml of lager
40p for a litre of cider

The proposed rate is not likely to help local shopkeepers who, when questioned by the BBC News website said the government's proposed minimum prices were far below what they had to charge to generate a profit. The minimum rate and further reductions in the cost of supermarket alcohol is unlikely to help the UK Pub industry either; publicans have learned in the last few years that they need to diversify their business in order to survive. However, their core business remains alcohol sales.

Paramount Investments spokesperson commented that “While changes will be welcome news to an industry which struggled during 2011 publicans must capitalize on any benefit and strive to keep punters when they re-emerge in 2012.”

“They must offer something extra - music, darts, pool, live music to other forms of entertainment. They must offer a clean vibrant atmosphere/image and serve good home-cooked food at affordable prices - it is essential they make the most of any opportunity they are given to recapture a share of the market-place.”

Pub Trade News

Colchester Pub for Sale, Essex

2012-01-19T07:06:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Colchester, Essex

Beer House
Magdalen Street
Colchester
Essex
CO1

Ground floor footplate: 1542 sq/ft*

£ 250,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The property is on one of Colchester's main thoroughfares, Magdalen Road (A134) in Essex. Both Colchester Town Rail and Hythe Rail Stations are within walking distance.

PROPERTY
Two storey, detached freehold property suitable for any A1-A4 use. The property benefits from approximately 2,500sq.ft of outdoor space.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 4,080 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 1,542 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £5,200

Beer House Pub for Sale, Colchester

Planning Permission for Change of Use for King's Lynn Pubs

2012-01-18T05:34:00.000-08:00

New uses are set to be found for two closed King's Lynn pubs after it was revealed one had been sold and talks were ongoing over another, reports the Lynn News.

The Queen's Arms pub in London Road has been sold, subject to planning permission being granted for a change of use.

And talks are also continuing to find a new tenant for the Hogs Head, in High Street.

Brewery Elgood's, which is based in Wisbech, owns The Queen's Arms, which closed in April last year.

Estates manager Robin Hotson confirmed that a sale had been agreed, subject to planning.He also said that the building will not reopen as a pub and a change of use application will be submitted later.

He said: 'We have been looking to do something with it for some time. Fingers crossed that it will all go through.'

Agent Adam Faulkner, of Grounds and Co of Wisbech, also confirmed the sale but remained tight lipped over the identity of the new owners and the future uses for the site.

He said: 'We have agreed a sale and it will be subject to a planning consent.'

Norfolk Pub for Sale

JD Wetherspoons Announces Current Trading

2012-01-18T00:55:00.000-08:00

JD Wetherspoon plc announces an update on current trading before entering its closed period for its interim results for the six months ending 22 January 2012, which are expected to be announced on 9 March 2012.

Current trading

For the first twelve weeks of the second quarter (to 15 January 2012), like-for-like sales increased by 3.6%, compared to 1.1% growth in the first quarter (to 23 October 2011). Total sales, including new pubs, for the first twelve weeks of the second quarter increased by 9.9%, compared to 7.3% in the first quarter. In the year to date (25 weeks to 15 January 2012), like-for-like sales increased by 2.3% and total sales increased by 8.5%.

December LFL sales were strong, mainly due to adverse weather conditions last year. Sales growth for the period before and after December was approximately in line with the first quarter.

We expect the operating margin for the half year ending 22 January 2012 to be slightly below that achieved in the first quarter of this financial year, with the potential for further decline in the second half of this financial year due to continuing cost increases. We expect the Company’s corporation tax rate for this financial year to be around 29%.

Property

The Company has opened 18 new pubs and closed 2 pubs since the start of this financial year. We have a number of sites under development and, in line with previous estimates, intend to open approximately 50 pubs in the current financial year.

Financial position

There have been no significant changes in the Company's overall financial position, since the publication on 6 October 2011 of the annual report and accounts for the year ended 24 July 2011.

Outlook

Our sales, profit and cash flow remain resilient. As previously stated, the main challenges for the Company, in this financial year of 53 trading weeks, will be the continuing cost pressures resulting from government legislation, including further increases to excise duty, business rates and carbon tax. In addition, as previously stated, pubs pay VAT on food, whereas supermarkets do not, and also pay far higher rates of VAT than similar businesses in Ireland and France, for example. In order to maximise job creation and taxation revenues, we believe the government needs to reduce VAT for pubs and restaurants as a priority. Notwithstanding these issues the Company is aiming for a reasonable outcome in the current financial year.

JD Wetherspoons