UK Pubs For Sale - UK Freehold Pubs For Sale

Alcohol Minimum Pricing Will Have No Impact on Health

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

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

Dunmow Pub for Sale Essex

2012-01-17T06:51:00.000-08:00

Essex Pub for Sale

Three Horseshoes
Bannister Green
Felsted, Dunmow
Essex
CM6

Gross Site Area: 13851 sq/ft*

£ 395,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
Located in the small hamlet of Bannister Green, half a mile from the scenic village of Felsted. The village boasts a number of amenities including a deli, antique shop, art gallery, restaurants. Felsted is within easy reach of road and rail connections to London and Stansted Airport. Braintree, Great Dunmow and Chelmsford are all also within easy reach. The property falls within the catchment area of Felsted Primary School.

PROPERTY
Detached, grade II listed, freehold property with substantial gardens and parking. The building occupies a prominent position in a popular area overlooking Bannister Green.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 13,851 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 1,172 sq.ft*
Rateable value: £8,500
Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.

Three Horseshoes Pub for Sale, Essex

Pubs and restaurants see major sales boost after snowless December

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

Britain’s pubs and restaurants saw a major sales boost over the Christmas and New Year period, with like-for-like sales for December up 9.9 per cent from 2010.

http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Trends-Reports/Pubs-and-restaurants-see-major-sales-boost-after-snowless-December

Pubcos Power to be Curbed

2012-01-16T01:43:00.000-08:00

Ministers face Commons defeat over reform of pub business as MPs call for statutory code of practice in an industry that is losing 20 pubs a month

The Guardian reports that ministers are being accused of naivety, if not outright collusion, in their dealings with pub companies, as the government faces the prospect of an embarrassing defeat this week over its relations with the big pub operators.

An all-party move to condemn the government's handling of relations between pub companies and tied landlords will be put to a vote on Thursday. The motion attacks business department proposals to reform the pub industry and calls for a statutory code of practice and an industry adjudicator. The government favours making the industry's own codes of practice legally binding.

It comes at a time when pubs continue to close at a rate of more than 20 a month. Critics have claimed the government's stance puts the interests of big corporations ahead of local communities. Conservative MP Brian Binley said the government had "sold its soul to the devil" by refusing to introduce a statutory code that would give landlords an option to free themselves from brewers. Nearly 29,000 of the 55,000 pubs in Britain are tied.

Ban on Pubs & Bars Selling Below Cost Alcohol

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

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 damaging the UK Pub Industry.

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.

Licensing Legal is a boutique firm of licensing lawyers and solicitors, headed up by, Anthony Horne, who has over 30 years' experience in the field of liquor, entertainment and gambling licences as well as connected regulatory matters.

''There is little known about the implications of the below-cost alcohol ban. As with most new legislation the outcome can only really be assessed once it becomes a reality. Speculation is rife as to what effect this will have; the honest answer is that we simply don’t know,' said Anthony Horne, Director of Licensing Legal who is listed in the Legal Experts 2011 guide.

''It is probably realistic to say that the ban will have little impact on most pubs and bars; and it is doubtful that it will go far enough to ensure that supermarkets raise their prices and level out the playing field for their competition. Representatives of the ‘on’ trade specifically have called for more support to be offered to pubs by raising the price even further so that they can compete more fairly,'' he reported.

The minimum rate and further reductions in the cost of supermarket alcohol is unlikely to help the UK Pub industry. 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 and the Government's proposed minimum prices were far below what they had to charge to generate a profit.

Paramount Investments are specialist commercial estate agents offering pubs and public houses for sale throughout the UK. Steve Oliver, Sales Director at Paramount noted that, ''6 pubs are closing down a week because they cannot hope to match the prices charged by supermarkets. In 2011 we exchanged contracts on 208 pubs up from 202 the previous year. Many of these properties were for sale at below market value as breweries and pub companies wanted to cut their losses on run down, strugling, empty or vacant pubs and public houses.''

''Property developers are choosing to invest their money in these derelict pub sites and sadly many of these pub properties have been sold as property development sites with planning permission for change to 'residential use' from 'A4 use' as a drinking establishment. While changes will be welcome news to the pub trade which struggled during 2011 but successful publicans must capitalize on any benefit and strive to keep customers when they re-emerge in 2012.”

“Successful pubs must offer something extra - music, darts, pool, live music to other forms of entertainment. They must offer a clean vibrant atmosphere or 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.”

Luton Pub for Sale, Bedfordshire

2012-01-15T01:45:00.000-08:00

Bedfordshire Leasehold Pub for Sale

Manhattans
Cumberland Street
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1

Gross Site Area: 3331 sq/ft*

£ 185,000 + VAT Short Leasehold until September 2052@ £50 pa.

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.

There is private accommodation upstairs comprising of a small bathroom with separate toilet, 3 double bedrooms, a lounge and kitchen. There are 2 parking permits reserved for the Manhattans. We have been advised that these can be obtained by contacting the local council.

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).

Public house/development land for sale with full vacant possession.

Southampton MP Calls for Government Action to Slow Closures

2012-01-14T04:10:00.000-08:00

Southampton MP John Denham has joined calls for Government action to slow the tide of pub closures in the county.

The MP has backed a motion being debated in Parliament today calling for a statutory code of practice for pub companies to ease pressure on pub tenants and managers.

Studies suggest that 25 pubs are closing every week nationwide. At least 30 have closed in south Hampshire in the last three years, with the Talking Heads venue in Mr Denham's constituency the latest to shut its doors.

Mr Denham, Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, said: “The pub is such an important feature of Southampton's community and it is very concerning to see the number of community pubs in Southampton declining at an alarming rate.

In my constituency, pubs such as the Merry Oak, Eagle and Winning Post have been closed and empty for some time, and we know this same story is being played out in other parts of the country too.There are some practices by large pub companies which are undoubtedly fuelling this decline that a legislative code of practice could address.

The debate follows a report by a committee of MPs who saw no other alternative than legislative intervention to halt pub closures and tackle issues such as restricted covenants and beer ties, which are mostly blamed by tenants with financial problems.

While he was secretary of state for communities and local government Mr Denham said that if the previous voluntary code of conduct failed, a Labour Government would back legislation.

Hampshire Pubs for Sale

Gloucester Pub for Sale

2012-01-13T01:57:00.000-08:00

Quedgeley Pub for Sale, Gloucester

Orchard
Olympus Park
Quedgeley, Gloucester
Gloucestershire
GL2

Gross Site Area: 37578 sq/ft*

£ 200,000 + VAT
Freehold

Freehold public house on a prominent main road position just 3 miles from Gloucester City Centre. The property is also situated just a 10-minute drive from Gloucester Docks, is 2.5 miles from the M5 motorway and 3 miles from Gloucester Railway Station.

The property has suffered substantial fire damage and would be suitable for redevelopment into leisure or alternative uses subject to gaining the appropriate consents. Possible uses would include B1 (The property fronts the Olympus Business Park), retail/drive-thru, residential, mixed use, hotel amongst others.

Approx gross site area: 37,578 sq ft*

Please note that there is a covenant on the land which stipulates that the occupiers of the adjacent hotel have the rights to use the pub car park (shaded in red on the attached plan) for parking only (on a 1st come 1st served basis!).

Gloucestershire Pub for Sale

Pub and bar operators 'cautiously optimistic' for 2012 after Christmas trading boost

2012-01-12T04:23:00.000-08:00

Pub and bar operators are ‘cautiously optimistic’ for the year ahead after seeing a year-on-year sales boost over the Christmas period, a survey from the Association of Licenced Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has discovered.

http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Trends-Reports/Pub-and-bar-operators-cautiously-optimistic-for-2012-after-Christmas-trading-boost

Planning Granted for Henley Pub

2012-01-12T01:21:00.000-08:00

Planning permission has been granted to turn one of Henley’s oldest pubs into seven flats, reports the Henley Standard.

The former Old White Horse in Northfield End, which dates back to the 17th century, will be extended under plans approved by South Oxfordshire District Council.

The Brakspear pub closed in 2010 when the last tenant, who ran it as a Thai restaurant, left.

In October that year, the pub company was refused permission to demolish the Grade II-listed building and replace it with five terraced homes. The latest scheme, for three one-bedroom flats and four two-bedroom flats, retains the original building.

Adrian Duffield, head of planning at the council, said the proposal would “preserve the character and appearance of the site and surrounding conservation area and would not harm neighbouring amenity or be prejudicial to highway safety”.

Henley Town Council’s planning committee, which objected to the demolition, voted to support the latest plan. Before it closed, the pub had a high turnover of tenants despite Brakspear spending £150,000 on refurbishments and creating rooms to let.

Chief executive Tom Davies said: “Brakspear is pleased to have obtained planning permission and is now considering its options.”

The first mention of the Old White Horse was in 1636 when the History Of Henley described it as “the inn with only a bush for a sign”. It was rebuilt in 1938 in the same style as the Fox pub at Bix, which is now a private home.

Resilient Pubs May Appeal to Investors More Optimistic on U.K. Bloomberg Reports

2012-01-10T09:01:00.000-08:00

Shares of pubs may attract investors who predict the U.K. economy will grow more than forecast, as consumers keep hoisting pints.

Sales rose 2.1 percent in November at managed pubs and restaurants open at least 12 months, according to the Coffer Peach Business Tracker. This marks six consecutive months of so- called like-for-like increases at 24 major chains amid renewed concerns about a U.K. recession, said Peter Martin, chief executive officer at Peach Factory, which tracks the data with KPMG LLP, UBS AG and the London-based Coffer Group.

"The frequency of eating out has remained quite solid," said Martin, in Southport, England. "The pub industry has outperformed casual dining" as an "affordable treat."

The data -- a proxy for the industry -- cover pubs that are managed by operators such as Mitchells & Butlers Plc and Spirit Pub Co., Martin said. December figures, due later this month, probably will reflect continued increases, as value-minded consumers choose pub fare in lieu of more expensive meals, he predicted, adding that bad weather in December 2010 also may help the comparison.

Even as sales remain positive, the newly-created Bloomberg U.K. Pub Index -- which includes Greene King Plc and Mitchells & Butlers -- has fallen 25 percent since Dec. 31, 2010, while the FTSE 350 Index is down 6 percent. That's because investors have focused on "capital preservation," shunning companies -- including pubs -- that are highly leveraged, said Robert Griffiths, a London-based pan-European equity strategist at Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/01/06/bloomberg_articlesLXCO3B6K50XT.DTL#ixzz1ihMjKhm8

Drinkers told to Stay off Drink for 2 Days a week

2012-01-09T01:32:00.000-08:00

Drinkers should avoid drinking alcohol for at least two days a week to protect their health, a committee of MPs said in a report published Monday.

Current guidelines focus on maximum units of alcohol that can be safely consumed but people sometimes struggle to understand how many units there are in their glass of wine or pint of beer.

"We suggest that, if daily guidelines are retained, the Government consider simplifying the guidelines so that, as is the case in Scotland, all individuals are advised to take at least two alcohol-free days a week," the report said.

"This would enforce the message that drinking every day should be avoided, and would helpfully quantify what "regular" drinking means to the public," it added.

The government, industry and charities should emphasize the acute risks of heavy drinking and the chronic risks of regular drinking, the review said.

New Moon Pub Company to create 70 jobs at 2 venues

2012-01-08T06:27:00.000-08:00

Two restaurant entrepreneurs aim to create 70 jobs this year as they plan to transform tired pubs into dining venues.

Paul Newman, a former director of restaurant chain Living Ventures, and chef David Mooney, who has previously worked with the likes of Raymond Blanc and Marco Pierre White, have set their sights on two locations in Cheshire following the success of their first venture, The Lord Binning Pub and Kitchen in Kelsall.

The pair, who launched their business, The New Moon Pub Company, last year, invested £120,000 to transform the site, formerly known as The Morris Dancer, into a restaurant with a bar and large function suite. It opened in August and now employs 35 staff. Projected turnover for the first year of trading is £1m.

Cambridge Pub Sells Pints at 1992 Prices

2012-01-06T02:47:00.000-08:00

Two pubs are turning back the clock this week as they party like it’s 1992.

To celebrate the start of 2012, The Regal, in St Andrew’s Street, and The Tivoli, in Chesterton Road, are both taking a walk down memory lane to relive the prices on offer at many locals a mere 20 years ago.

Pub-goers can expect a few bargains in this January sale as they pick up a pint until Wednesday, January 11.

Bar staff will be selling pints of Greene King Ruddles Best Bitter for £1.29 and Carlsberg lager for £1.99, while a bottle of Beck’s will also be £1.29 and a cup of coffee 79p.

Sarah Hemingway, manager at The Regal, told the News: “I am sure my customers will welcome the reduction in prices, especially at the start of the year when pockets are a little lighter.

“Department stores and shops hold their sales in January and I believe that given the choice of a trip to a sale at the shops or a sale at The Regal, most people would prefer a visit to the pub.

“We are looking forward to going back in time with our prices and welcoming our regulars and new customers along.”

According to the Campaign for Real Ale, the last time an average price of a pint of beer cost £1.29 was in 1992. Paul Ainsworth, from Camra’s Cambridge branch, said the figures “say it all”.

He told the News: “There has been a huge increase in beer prices, in excess of inflation, over the past 20 years and it is in large part due to the rise in tax from the Government.

“For each pint you buy now, at least £1 goes to the Government in duty and that amount has increased by 26 per cent in the last three years – the second highest rate in Europe.

Liverpool City Council considers bar and pub limit

2012-01-04T06:26:00.000-08:00

Councillors in Liverpool are considering proposals to restrict the number of city centre pubs and bars, reports the BBC.

The number of licensed premises has risen from 498 in 2007 to 683 in 2011.

Merseyside Police has warned a further increase could "see a rise" in alcohol related crime and would have "a clear knock-on effect" for policing in other areas of the city.

Nick Small, Labour councillor for Liverpool Central, said the council could not afford to "do nothing".

The council's licensing and gambling committee is due to look at different options later that range from taking no action to restricting new licences in individual zones or across the whole of the city centre.

Leeds Pub for Sale

2012-01-01T07:24:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Leeds, West Yorkshire

Railway
Balm Road
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS10

Gross Site Area: 4012 sq/ft*

£ 75,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
Located approximately 2.5 miles south of Leeds city centre and Leeds railway station 1.6 miles away. There is east access to the M621 and M1 motorways. The area is mainly residential; there are offices and a church close by, as well as a warehouse park.

PROPERTY
Detached 2 storey, rendered brick building with a private yard to the side.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 4,012 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £3,500
Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest

West Yorkshire Pub for Sale, Leeds

Cumbria Pub for Sale

2011-12-31T05:31:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria

LOCATION
The property fronts the Salthouse Road (A5087) at its junction with Foundry Street. Barrow-in-Furness and Roose National rail stations are both with a mile of the property. The area is predominately residential with some other commercial premises nearby.

PROPERTY
3-storey semi detached rendered/brick building. There are single story parts to the building at the rear.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx ground floor foot plate: 2,577 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £9,600
Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest

Barrow-in-Furness pub for Sale

UK Pub Sales News: 2011 was actually a good year for pubs

2011-12-30T09:22:00.000-08:00

Unexpectedly, 2011 has been a good year for the licensed trade says Pete Brown of the Publican’s Morning Advertiser.

And Mr Brown says he is feeling very positive about what 2012 will have in store for those with or looking to buy a pub.

He feels that many of the claims about pubs failing are misleading as bad news is always reported more widely than good news and that CGA Strategy’s prediction that new pub openings will soon exceed closures as a good indication of the way which the trade is heading.

However, he points out that many of new openings will be a “different breed of pub from those which are closing: they’re more premium, more expensive, a bit flashier”.

His comments follow on from advice given by the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group recently, which said that adding a food menu to your pub's offerings is one of the best ways to boost trade.

UK Pub Sales News

Private Equity Companies Look to Cash in On the Lucrative Dining Sector

2011-12-26T05:17:00.000-08:00

According to new research from business advisory firm BDO, the number of merger and acquisition transactions relating to pubs, bars and restaurants looks set to rise significantly next year.(Reports the Business Sale Report)

Head of restaurant and bars at BDO, David Campbell, told The Financial Times, “Eating out has been relatively unaffected in the consumer downturn and we see casual dining continuing to grow.

“With banks looking to offload pub assets and a number of profitable restaurant chains approaching the point where we would expect an ownership change, the market is ripe for M&A activity,” added Mr Campbell.

The firm also predicted that popular high-street chains such as Pizza Express and Jamie’s Italian could be acquired by new owners in 2012 as private equity companies look to cash in on the lucrative dining sector.

Mr Campbell added, “Companies will be investing in 2012 in anticipation of consumer pressure easing in 2013 as wage inflation supersedes cost inflation.”

The firm reported that as many as 5,000 pubs currently up for sale will see some sort of movement next year, with giants such as Greene King and Punch Taverns offloading less successful pubs and banks disposing of repossessed assets.

Bury Pub for Sale, Greater Manchester

2011-12-24T06:37:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Bury, Greater Manchester

Bird In Hand
Manchester Road
Bury
Greater Manchester
BL9

Ground floor footplate: 1335 sq/ft*

£ 175,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The Bird In hand is located on the busy Manchester Road, between Bury (to the North) and Whitefield (to the South). Radcliffe metro-link station is about 1.22 miles South West of the property. The immediate area is residential but there are local amenities close by.

PROPERTY
The property itself is a 2 storey terrace building with a small outside drinking space to the front.

Greater Manchester Pub for Sale

Locals Buy Freehold Pub to Save From Closure

2011-12-23T05:14:00.000-08:00

Villagers who feared their 111-year-old local would close have taken matters into their own hands to ensure its survival – including reducing the amount of money flushed down the toilet, reports the Northern Echo

Property developers Graham and Carolynne Hall have lived next door to The Victoria in Witton-le-Wear, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, for 11 years.

Four weeks ago the couple bought the pub amid fears it could be shut down – following the national trend of pubs owned by large corporations.

The Victoria, believed to have been built in 1900, has been owned by a large brewery with a series of tenant landlords struggling to keep it open.

Over the past 18 months its fortunes have improved thanks to landlady Katherine Hutchinson and her partner, Cheryl Carson, but Mr and Mrs Hall feared it would only be a matter of time before the owners would try to squeeze more money out of the pub.

They have now bought it as a free house, meaning it is no longer limited to buying its alcohol from the brewery.

Walsall Pub for Sale, West Midlands

2011-12-22T04:33:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Walsall, West Midlands

Oak Inn
Green Lane
Walsall
West Midlands
WS2

Gross Site Area: 10645 sq/ft*

£ 350,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The Oak Tree is located in a predominantly retail/commercial area but there are residential streets nearby. Walsall rail station is approximately 0.18 miles south of the site.

PROPERTY
2 storey detached part rendered/part brick building with various single storey extensions to the rear.

West Midlands Pub for Sale

Urban and Country Leisure to Focus on Lazy Cow

2011-12-21T02:51:00.000-08:00

Pub operator Urban & Country Leisure (UCL) is to exit destination country pubs and focus only on higher footfall locations as well as the expansion of its Lazy Cow boutique hotel brand.

The move, which forms part of the company's strategic review of its estate for 2012, will see UCL dispose of two out of nine units from its estate initially. It said it would affect pubs where landlords have increased rent or become inflexible on lease arrangements.

The first site will be the Huff Cap in Warwickshire, where UCL will sell the lease back to the landlord after taking over the former derelict pub 18 months ago and spending £850,000 refurbishing it. UCL said that despite being profitable, the site had struggled with a massive, above market value rent increase, which made its future unsustainable.

"We really did not want to leave the Huff Cap, but the economics did not add up with the current climate, the marginal profits and rent increase, which was disproportionate," said owner Ross Sanders.

UCL recently sold one of its key London sites, the Marylebone Cocktail bar on Marylebone High Street in Central London, for a sum in excess of £625,000, making it one of the highest paid premiums for a tied lease in Central London this year.

Meanwhile UCL said it will continue with its expansion plans on its Lazy Cow boutique hotel and restaurant concept, which currently has two properties in Warwick and Salisbury. Negotiations are currently under way for a third site in the West Midlands, which will open in the first quarter of 2012, while sites in Bath, Cheltenham, Cheshire and Bristol are currently being reviewed.

Sanders added: "The success of the Lazy Cow brand is focused on the fact that we have an exceptional product, quality offering and strong location. We are striving to establish TLC as a chain of intimate, stylish boutique hotels with a strong accent on unique, quality accommodation, stylish interiors and exceptional food and drink offerings. Location has also been a key factor in the success."

Buxton pub for Sale, Derbyshire Pub for Sale

2011-12-20T04:26:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Buxton, Derbyshire

Prince of Wales
Fairfield Road
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17

Gross Site Area: 5195 sq/ft*

£ 195,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The Prince of Wales is located in the busy A6 on the Junction of Fairfield Road and Victoria Park Road/Windsor Road. Immediately surround the property are both commercial and residential properties. Buxton town centre is close by and the Buxton rail station is just under 0.3 miles West of the site.

PROPERTY
2 storey detached brick building on a corner plot. There are some car parking spaces on the site and an outside drinking area at the front. There are some single story sections to the side of the property.

Private accommodation comprises a kitchen, lounge, 3 bedrooms and a bathroom.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 5,195 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 2,175 sq.ft* (of pub only)
Rateable Value: £7,750
Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest

Derbyshire Pub for Sale

Aylesbury's New Brewery

2011-12-19T02:55:00.000-08:00

Aylesbury's newest brewery has been unveiled to drinkers at the Hop Pole Pub – who will get to try a different beer each week, reports the Thame gazette.

The recipe will be changed every seven days at the eight barrel plant which is situated at the back of the pub on Bicester Road.It will produce roughly 4,500 pints every week.

The brewery was officially opened by Roger Protz, editor of the annual Good Beer Guide, published by the Campaign for Real Ale.It is the first brewery to open in the town for 75 years.The original Aylesbury Brewery Company stopped brewing in 1937.

But the offices and ‘ABC’ brand with the Aylesbury Duck logo continued for many years – first under the ownership of Ind Coope & Allsopp and then later Allied Breweries, until the offices were closed in 1989.

The newly opened ‘Aylesbury Brewhouse’ is run by Hop Pole owners Mark and Phil Stevens of the Vale Brewery in Brill.

Phil said: “We will be giving free rein to the creativity of our brewers, to devise beers to delight our customers with limited edition beers.”

Ian Mackey, general manager of Vale Brewery, said: “I think that small local brewing pubs are a big attraction, I know some people travel quite considerable distances to see a small brewery and pub like this.

“There are people out there whose hobby is trying these types of beers and to experience the beers in the location they are brewed in.

“I have had a lot of people come up to us who are regulars or local to Aylesbury who were really pleased to see brewing back in the town.”

The brewery opening coincided with the pub’s weekend beer festival.

Stoke on Trent Pub For Sale, Staffordshire

2011-12-18T04:02:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

LOCATION
The Vine is located on a residential road. There are some local amenities relatively nearby. There is quick access onto the A50 (Uttoxeter Road) and Longton Rail is just over 0.5 mile away.

PROPERTY
Brick built detached building. Mixed 1 and 2 storeys with single storey out-building to side.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 5,618 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 2,899 sq.ft* (of pub only)
Rateable Value: £3,000
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 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 may be applicable in this matter.

Staffordshire Pub for Sale

Bradford Hotel for Sale, Freehold Pub for Sale West Yorkshire

2011-12-17T02:52:00.000-08:00

Freehold pub for sale in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Druids Hotel
Allerton Road
Allerton, Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD15

Ground floor footplate: 1997 sq/ft*

£ 195,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The Druids is situated on Allerton Road and is surrounded by a number of commerical and residential units. It is approximately 3 miles from Bradford City Centre.

PROPERTY
Brick built, semi-detached property set over 2 floors with 2 rooms in the loft. Access to the front and rear. One owners parking space to the rear. One bar inside with toilets, basement cellar and a small court yard garden.

West Yorkshire Pub for Sale

Punch Tavern Licensee Serves 2000 Meals A Week

2011-12-16T05:48:00.000-08:00

A Falkirk Pub Serves 2000 meals a week since joint investment with Punch Taverns.

Gary and Wendy Horne have been running the Coppertop in the town since 2009. The couple has invested around £120,000 in the pub with Punch Taverns making an investment of £230,000. The joint investment has transformed the business into a busy food-led business – it has a 75/25 trading split. The Coppertop is so busy at weekends that it has to turn away as many as 300 to 500 customers.

The food offer is focused on good-value traditional British food such as steak pies and fish and chips, with the average dinner spend of £8 per head.

Among the eye-catching features introduced during the refurbishment, there is a £10,000 five-food long LED screen that looks like a real fire.

Gary Horne, who previously ran a Punch pub a decade ago, said: "Punch is a totally different company to the one I knew a decade ago. It's been brilliant to me in the last couple of years – very supportive. It's given me the opportunity to make decent money here. If I can find another Punch pub that's the right pub in the right location, I'd be delighted to take on another one."

The Coppertop faces fierce local competition in Falkirk, including a nearby Beefeater and a new build restaurant. But Horne says that being customer-focused and offering value is the key. "I think Punch has recognized the potential in a lot of their pubs if they can get the right people to do the job – and I think you have to do food if you want to stick around."

Hugglescote Pub for Sale, Coalville, Leicestershire

2011-12-15T02:42:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Hugglescote, Coalville, Leicestershire

Castle Inn
Dennis Street
Hugglescote, Coalville
Leicestershire
LE67

Gross Site Area: 13382 sq/ft*

£ 275,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The property is located in a predominantly residential area of Hugglescote. Loughborough railway station is just under 9 miles North East of the site and is the nearest railway link.

PROPERTY
2 storey simi detached property with various single story linked buildings to the rear. There is a car park to the side which currently holds circa 11 spaces.

Please note that this is a split site (refer to title plan). Please call the investments team if you have any queries on 020 7644 2333.

Leicestershire Pub for Sale

Britvic Report Pre Tax Profits

2011-12-14T05:37:00.000-08:00

Profits at Britvic, the firm behind J2O and Tango, held up against "the economic turbulence" of 2011 according to chief executive Paul Moody.

Britvic reported full year pre-tax profits of £105.1m, up 0.5% from the previous year.

Mr Moody said that 2011 had been a year of "unprecedented" raw material inflation, which was between 9-11%.

He said there were difficult trading conditions and the outlook for 2012 remained "very challenging".

Fizzy drink volumes for the year rose 3%. This off-set a 1.8% fall in the volume of still drinks sold in the year.

Shipley Pub for Sale, West Yorkshire

2011-12-13T12:04:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Shipley, West Yorkshire

LOCATION
The Oddfellows Hall public house is located in the town centre of Shipley on the corner of Otley Road and Cross banks. Shipley Rail station is very close by (0.19 miles) along the same road. Frizinghall station is also under a mile away south of the site. The area is mixed residential/commercial.

PROPERTY
3 storey detached brick building. Ground floor comprises 2-room trading area, lounge and separate games room. There is a patio to the rear and car park for circa 12 spaces.

Private accommodation comprises 3 bedrooms, lounge, kitchen and bathroom.

West Yorkshire Pub for Sale, Shipley

Salford Pub Take Over By Paul Heaton

2011-12-12T05:32:00.000-08:00

Paul Heaton has moved into the licensing trade after buying a pub in Salford reports the NME.

The former Beautiful South singer explained he decided to snap up the Kings' Arms boozer in the north-west city after growing concerned about the "fractured" local community.

Heaton told Manchesterconfidential.co.uk that convenience was also a factor in his business decision, as he already uses the upstairs room in the pub to rehearse.

He said:It’s a bit of a fractured community around the pub, with city centre flats on one side and Salford houses on the other, so we want to try and bring those people together a bit more.

Heaton has had to sit an exam on the licensing trade as part of the move - and isn't sure if he's passed it yet.

He added that he hasn't "come into it with a business plan", but already has designs on the types of crisps he wants to sell behind the bar and the tunes that'll be played on the jukebox.

Heaton is also set to kick off his second UK tour of pubs at the venue next year.

Stanton Harcourt Pub for Sale, Witney

2011-12-11T02:05:00.001-08:00

Freehold Public House For Sale In Stanton Harcourt, Witney.

Fox
Main Road
Stanton Harcourt, Witney
Oxfordshire
OX29

Gross Site Area: 19206 sq/ft*

£ 350,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The Fox is prominently located on a corner plot in Witney's picturesque countryside just on the North boarders of Stanton Harcourt where there is a primary school, post office and community church. Witney town centre is approximately 5 miles North West of the property and local shops and amenities are within an easy drive away.

PROPERTY
Ground floor comprises bar and lounge area, and catering kitchen. There is a car park and good sized beer garden.

Private accommodation comprises lounge, kitchen, 3 bedrooms and a bathroom. We are advised this is all of good size.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Offered with full vacant possession
Approx gross site area: 19,206 sqft*
Approx ground floor area: 1,324 sqft*
Rateable Value: £8,500

Oxfordshire Pub for Sale, Stanton Harcourt

Greene King Report Good Results But Warn Of A Tough Year Ahead

2011-12-10T02:49:00.000-08:00

Pub owner and brewer Greene King has joined its rivals in reporting higher half-yearly profits, but warns that it sees a tough year ahead.

Suffolk-based Greene King said pretax profits were up 5.6% at £77.2m, following good results from Marston's and Fuller Smith and Turner.

But Rooney Anand, Greene King's chief executive, gave a bleak assessment of the economic climate.

He said incomes were squeezed and this would not change in the near future.

Mr Anand said in this environment people were looking for "everyday indulgence", echoing Marston's chief who referred to "affordable treats".

He added: "Falling consumer confidence and the weakening of the UK economic recovery suggest that we will face another tough trading environment in 2012.

"Despite this, there are still significant opportunities for growth, and we believe our strategy to grow our retail estate and our share of the eating out market will help us to maintain our track record of strong earnings and dividends."

Greene King operates 2,400 pubs across the country as well as restaurants including the Loch Fyne seafood chain.

Its chains include Hungry Horse, Old English Inns and Bellhaven.

Swandlicote Pub for Sale, Derbyshire

2011-12-09T11:57:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Swadlincote, Derbyshire

LOCATION
The Rising Sun is located just inside Sun Street on the junction of Thorn Street, on the south side of Woodville town. The road and area are predominantly residential. Burton Upon Trent is the nearest rail station, 5.45 miles North West of the site.

PROPERTY
2 story brick built building, 1 storey in parts to the side and rear. Ground floor comprises 2 sectioned trading area, served from 1 central bar. To the rear there is a patio area with smoking solution and small car park. There is also a private yard for owners use.

Private accommodation comprises lounge, kitchen, 3 bedrooms and bathroom. We are advised the property is double glazed throughout and a new energy efficient gas boiler has been installed.

Derbyshire Pub for Sale

Marstons Brewery to Open 25 Pubs Next Year

2011-12-08T02:45:00.000-08:00

Pub chain Marston’s is to open another 25 pubs next year as cash-strapped customers trade down from restaurant dining to a meal at their local pub.

The new outlets, which will include three in Yorkshire with one site confirmed in Cleckheaton, will create 1,000 jobs over the next year including around 100 in the Yorkshire area.

The company, which has around 200 pubs currently in Yorkshire, operates under the Pitcher & Piano and Tavern Table brands.

The trend away from restaurant to pub dining helped Marston’s full-year profit come in at the upper end of expectations.

Chief executive Ralph Findlay said customers are looking for “affordable treats”.

Marston’s has introduced a number of offers such as two main meals for £10 and a curry with a drink for £4.95 as it looks to pull in diners.

The group reported strong food sales in Yorkshire and cited the Yorkshire Rose in Huddersfield as one of its best performing pubs in the region.

Peterlee Pub for Sale, Easington, Durham

2011-12-07T11:48:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Peterlee, Durham

Shoulder of Mutton
Low Row
Peterlee, Easington
Durham
SR8

Gross Site Area: 11177 sq/ft*

£ 250,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The Shoulder of Mutton Public House is located on the Sunderland Road. The location is mainly residential but there are some commercial units close by. Seaham rail station is the nearest train station which is 3.78 miles North. The Cost to the North Sea is just a few miles East of the site.

PROPERTY
2 Storey, semi detached brick building. Ground floor holds traditional bar and lounge set up. There is a Pool/darts area and a car park to the rear.

Private accommodation comprises a lounge, kitchen, bathroom and 3 bedrooms.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 11,177 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 2,882 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £9,600
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.

Durham Pub for Sale, Peterlee

Amber Taverns to Open 30 New Pubs Creating 300 New Jobs

2011-12-06T08:53:00.000-08:00

Pub chain Amber Taverns is planning to open 30 new pubs across the north in a move that will create 300 jobs within three years.

Amber, based in Blackpool, is funding the expansion with a £4m credit facility from Lloyds Bank and a £1m loan from LGV Capital, the company's majority shareholders.

It has a strategy of taking on struggling community pubs and investing in turning them around.

The chain, which currently has 70 pubs in the north of England, Midlands and north Wales, was founded in 2005 and announced a plan to double in size in October last year after undergoing a management buyout backed by private equity outfit LGV.

Chairman Clive Preston said: “It has been an exciting five years, during which we have demonstrated time after time that good wet-led pubs are a sound investment and provide a valuable local amenity.

Stoke on Trent Pub for Sale, Staffordshire

2011-12-05T02:32:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub for Sale Stoke on Trent

Cross Guns
Vincent Street
Stoke-on-Trent
Staffordshire
ST1

Gross Site Area: 2442 sq/ft*

£ 190,000 + VAT
Freehold

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

Approx gross site area: 2,442 sq ft*

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.

Staffordshire Pub for Sale

Good Pub or Restaurants As Important As Good Schools in Property Choice

2011-12-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

A good range of local pubs or eateries coupled with quality local schools is the driving force behind solid house prices in most regions, say the people behind first-time buyer news site FirstRungNow.com.

Helen Adams, managing director of the website, believes that being able to wine and dine locally in a hip and trendy setting gives a great boost to property values.
She said: "Schools are important and people do move to areas for schools, but also if there's a thriving social life - restaurants, cafes and bars - that can also keep prices up too."

Ms Adams added that smaller towns and regions that have good commuter links to big cities such as London will always perform well no matter what the market conditions are at the time.

With that in mind, it is probably advised that those planning on purchasing a property check out the quality of the pubs and restaurants, while those of you looking to buy a pub should investigate the area's local amenities, schools and transport links.

Gastro pubs in particular remain a sound investment, with the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group stating last week that food sales are good way for any licensed premises to make money.

London House Price News

Heineken buys entire RBS Galaxy pub estate for £412m

2011-12-03T22:40:00.000-08:00

Royal bank of Scotland (RBS) has sold its entire Galaxy estate, a portfolio consisting of 918 pubs, to Heineken in a deal worth £412m.

http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Business/Heineken-buys-entire-RBS-Galaxy-pub-estate-for-412m

Public House and Development Land For Sale, Staffordshire

2011-12-03T02:24:00.000-08:00

Newcastle Under Lyme Pub for Sale

Dunkirk Tavern
Dunkirk
Newcastle Under Lyme
Staffordshire
ST5

Ground floor footplate: 1733 sq/ft*

£ 200,000 + VAT
Freehold

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

Approx gross site area: 3,827 sq ft*

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.

Staffordshire Pub for Sale, Newcastle Under Lyme

Luton Pub for Sale, Bedfordshire

2011-12-02T03:02:00.000-08:00

Leasehold property for sale in Luton, Bedfordshire

LOCATION
The Unicorn is located on a corner plot next to the main road in a residential area in Luton.

PROPERTY
Ground Floor comprised 2 open-plan bars, a trade kitchen, cellar and a garage.
Private accommodation comprises 4 bedrooms and a bathroom

Two storey, brick built, detached building. There is a yard to the rear and car park to the front (circa 22 spaces).

Floor Areas:
Approx Ground Floor Bar Area: 2,712 sq ft*
Approx Ground Floor Ancillary: 1,612 sq ft*
Approx Ground Floor Total: 4,312 sq ft*
Approx First Floor: 990 sq ft*

FURTHER INFORMATION
Offered with Vacant possession
Long Leasehold 99 years from April 1965 at a rent of £150 per annum
Development Potential (STPP)
Rateable Value: £20,000
Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.

Bedfordshire Pub for Sale, Luton

Bradford Pub For Sale, West Yorkshire

2011-12-01T01:37:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Bradford, West Yorkshire

Waggoners
Halifax Road
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD6

Gross Site Area: 7778 sq/ft*

£ 195,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The Waggoners public house is located on the busy Halifax Road West of Bradford centre. Eastbrook rail is 2.8 miles north east of the site. The M606 is very close, providing quick and easy access onto the M60. There is a Tesco petrol station opposite and there are some other retail/commercial units but the area is mainly residential.

PROPERTY
2 Story, semi detached brick built building set back from the road. There is a patio at the front and a yard to the rear with access for cars.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 7,778sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 2,122 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £13,000
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.

West Yorkshire Pub for Sale, Bradford

UK Pub Sales News: Licensed trade set for growth over the next few years

2011-11-30T08:59:00.000-08:00

The licensed trade in the UK will be flourishing again in the next few years.
Figures released by CGA Strategy highlighted that closures of public houses are now at the lowest level for more than four years.

Speaking at a media briefing for Suffolk-based cider producers Aspall, CGA's Scott Elliott said that the licensed trade was evolving due to forward thinking publicans and growth can be expected from 2015 onwards, reports In a Pub News.

“The ones that are opening are very different to the ones that are closing. 50 per cent of all new openings are a hybrid kind of concept. The café /wine-bar outlets with a good range of premium products including decent cask ales," he stated.

His comments follow on from advice given by the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group recently, which said that adding a food menu to your pub's offerings is one of the best ways to boost trade.

UK Pub Sales News

Leek Pub for Sale, Staffordshire

2011-11-30T02:16:00.000-08:00

Central Leek Pub for Sale, Staffordshire

Fountain Inn
Fountain Street
Leek
Staffordshire
ST13

Ground floor footplate: 1234 sq/ft*

£ 225,000 + VAT

LOCATION
This former public house in situated in central Leek, Staffordshire. Located on Fountain Street just off the monument roundabout, the property occupies a prominent position opposite St Lukes Church.

Approx gross site area: 2,046 sq ft*

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.

Staffordshire Pub for Sale

Warwick Pub for Sale

2011-11-29T08:58:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Warwick, Warwickshire

Bunch of Grapes
Vine Lane
Warwick
Warwickshire
CV34

Gross Site Area: 10751 sq/ft*

£ 295,000 + VAT

LOCATION
The Bunch of Grapes public house is conveniently located on Vine Lane, a predominately residential area, yet moments from Warwick's town centre. The property is situated within walking distance of Warwick Railway Station and is close to the A46 providing excellent transport links.

PROPERTY
Two storey detached building sitting on 10,751 sq ft of land. To the rear of the property is a large car park and garden which is accessible via a secure gate.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 10,751 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 1,766 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £4,000
Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.

Warwickshire Pub for Sale

Pub Redevelopment; Change Of Use Plans Being Considered for Monk Sherborne

2011-11-29T02:08:00.000-08:00

Villagers are in a dogfight with a former Concorde captain who wants to convert a pub into a home.

Retired pilot Adrian Thompson has submitted a planning application to convert The Mole Inn, in Monk Sherborne.

It is Mr Thompson’s second such application, the first having been refused by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council earlier this year.

Mr Thompson, 62, a part-time property developer, says the pub is too small to be viable, having had eight landlords in the last 16 years. The pub shut in February last year, before Mr Thompson bought it.

But a group of villagers has formed a Save the Mole committee to oppose him. In July they wrote to him saying his plans would be “challenged at every step” and asking to discuss the options.

She added: “We strongly believe the pub is viable if it is in the right hands, refurbished and properly marketed.”

Planning documents show the pub was unsuccessfully up for sale at £395,000 freehold. Mr Thompson is believed to have paid substantially less for it.

Mr Thompson said despite their protests, he had heard nothing from the Save the Mole committee since the summer. He said: “I am a property developer and I have no interest in running a pub.”

Cwmbran Pub for Sale Gwent

2011-11-28T02:43:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Cwmbran, Gwent

Pontnewydd Inn (Fairces two)
Commercial Street
Cwmbran
Gwent
NP44

Gross Site Area: 8183 sq/ft*

£ 175,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The Pontnewydd Inn is located on a small commercial street with all the local shops and amenities on its door step. The area is predominantly residential. Cwmbran National Rail Station is 0.45 miles South East of the site.

PROPERTY
Ground floor comprises an open plan lounge, one bar serving all areas. To the rear there is a smoking solution

Private accommodation holds a lounge, kitchen, 1 bedroom and domestic bathroom.

Please note that the land on the title plan outlined in green has been previously sold off is not included in the sale.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 8,183 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 1,925 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £6,000

Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.

Gwent Pub for Sale, Freehold

Stoke On Trent Pub For Sale, Staffordshire

2011-11-28T02:00:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire

Base
Trinity Street
Stoke-on-Trent
Staffordshire
ST1

£ 295,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
Located on a prime commercial pitch in the Heart of Stoke-on-Trent City Centre. Neighbouring occupiers include major high street names such as Debenhams, HSBC, William Hill, Reed and KFC.

PROPERTY
Large 3 storey building with A4 use class and managers accomodation to the upper parts.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 1,786 sq.ft
Approx ground floor foot plate: 1,572 sq.ft
Rateable Value: £17,250
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.

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).

Staffordshire Pub for Sale, Stoke on Trent

Ludlow Pub for Sale, Shropshire

2011-11-27T02:52:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Ludlow, Shropshire

Horse & Jockey
Old Street
Ludlow
Shropshire
SY8

Gross Site Area: 9182 sq/ft*

£ 375,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The Horse & Jockey can be found on Old Street in Ludlow. The property is situated under a mile from Ludlow Railway Station providing excellent transport links.

PROPERTY
Two storey building with residential accommodation on first floor previously being used as a B&B. Large car park and garden to rear. Gross site area is approximately 9,182 sq ft.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 1,830 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 9,182 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £4,000

Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.

Shropshire Pub for Sale, Ludlow

Breathalyser machines installed in Cheltenham pubs

2011-11-27T01:56:00.000-08:00

Pub-goers pay £1 to breathe into the machine and are shown either a green, amber or red light, depending on how much they have consumed. Drinkers are given an exact reading of the alcohol content in their breath. The current limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

So far, eight venues in Cheltenham have installed an 'Alcosense' machine.

Joe, who lives in Cheltenham, said the company has pledged to donate a percentage of the amount collected from the machines each month to Help for Heroes, the national charity which supports British troops.

He said: "We wanted to raise money for our soldiers who risk their lives for our sake. For the sake of £1 and a few seconds, people could potentially save a life too."

The business plans to roll out the machines to all pubs and clubs in Cheltenham and Gloucester before expanding across the entire country.

Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

Worcester Pub for Sale,

2011-11-26T01:07:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Shrawley, Worcester

Rose & Crown (De-licensed)
Shrawley
Worcester
Worcestershire
WR6

Gross Site Area

£ 325,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The Rose and Crown is located in the beautiful village of Shrawley on the B4196. The village is mainly a residential area. Hartlebury National Rail is the nearest strain station at 4.36 miles North East of the property.

PROPERTY
Ground Floor comprises 2 separate bar areas and a function room at one end. There is a very large beer garden area to the rear and parking to the side. The kitchen on site currently caters to the public.

Private accommodation comprises a lounge, bathroom and 3 bedrooms.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 0.97 Acres
Approx ground floor foot plate: 1,578 sq.ft
Rateable Value: £5,550

Shrawley Pub for Sale, Worcester

Fenton Pub for Sale, Stoke on Trent Freehold Pub For Sale,

2011-11-25T01:25:00.000-08:00

Stoke on Trent Pub for Sale

Queen Victoria
Victoria Road
Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent
Staffordshire
ST4

Ground floor footplate: 3159 sq/ft*

£ 325,000 + VAT
Freehold

Queen Victoria Pub for Sale, Fenton, Stoke On Trent

North London Pub Bars Travellers

2011-11-24T02:01:00.000-08:00

The Irish Times is reporting that one of Britain’s largest pub chains is to face investigation for racial discrimination after a group, including a police officer and a priest who had attended an Irish Travellers’ meeting, were refused entry to a north London pub.

The incident occurred last Thursday shortly before 5pm when some of those who had attended an Irish Travellers’ Movement in Britain meeting at offices on Holloway Road went to the JD Wetherspoons-owned Coronet pub a few doors away.

The group, including Cheshire Constabulary’s head of diversity Insp Mark Watson, solicitor Martin Howe and the group’s chairman, Fr Joe Brown, along with a number of Travellers, were blocked by doormen.

Mr Howe, who is to issue legal proceedings against JD Wetherspoons today, said the doormen had told him they had been instructed not to allow in anyone who had been at the Travellers’ conference because of “problems last year, except that there weren’t any”.

London Pub Redevelopment, Catford

2011-11-24T01:35:00.000-08:00

A Pub which has stood vacant for eight years and seen numerous battles over its future will finally be demolished.

Last week, a Lewisham Council planning committee approved plans by Phoenix Community Housing to knock down Catford’s Green Man pub.Taking the Bromley Road building’s place will be the association’s two-floor headquarters .

Secretary of Southend Residents Association John Grosvenor, who has spoken out about the loss of the area’s pubs, said afterwards: “We’re disappointed about the demolition.But this is an investment in the area and will provide jobs for people, so there are a few plus points.”

The ground floor will become a ‘community hub’ including a café, credit union, small business units and public space.

Work is set to start in the new year and scheduled for completion in 2013.The pub has been vacant since 2003, when a first application to redevelop the building into high-rise flats was made.

Lowestoft Pub for Sale, Suffolk

2011-11-23T06:20:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Lowestoft, Suffolk

Morning Star
Carlton Road
Lowestoft
Suffolk
NR33

Gross Site Area: 13716 sq/ft*

£ 350,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
Prominently positioned on the corner of Carlton Road & Kirkley Street, The Morning Star is within convenient distance of both the A12 and Central Lowestoft.

PROPERTY
The public house boasts a large and impressive frontage set within its own small slip-road. There is also a car park and beer garden to the rear.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Offered with vacant possession
Rateable Value: £10,500
Approx gross site area: 13,716 sq ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 2,688 sq ft*

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.

Suffolk Pub For Sale In Lowestoft

Durham Pub for Sale, County Durham

2011-11-23T05:23:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In County Durham

LOCATION
The Travellers Rest public house is located on the corner of Alma Place and Dragon Lane. Durham railway station is situated 1.63 miles west of the site. The area is mainly residential although there are some commercial units close by. The A1M is within convenient distance.

PROPERTY
2 storey, semi-detached brick building occupying a corner plot or 1,752 sq ft*. There are single storey extensions to the rear. Ground floor is separated into 2 trading areas. There is a section with TV, sports and darts.

Private accommodation comprises 3 bedrooms, lounge, kitchen and bathroom.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 1,752 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 1,462 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £10,000
Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.

County Durham Pub for Sale

UK Pub Sales News: Pubs remain a solid investment, figures show.

2011-11-22T02:09:00.000-08:00

Pubs and restaurants continued to defy the gloom and remain a solid investment, figures from Coffer Peach's Business Tracker show.

Collectively, like-for-like sales between the two sectors rose by 0.9 per cent during October.

Peter Martin of Peach Factory, which investigated the sector in partnership with KPMG and UBS, said that figures in the hospitality trade continue to grow because the recession did not slow down people's desire to go out to eat and drink.

He added: “Quality is still the main factor in choosing where to go out, but value is becoming increasingly important, and with the cost of eating-in and eating-out narrowing in many parts of the market, it remains an attractive proposition even for those with families."

His comments follow on from advice given by All Party Parliamentary Beer Group, who said that the licensed trade is still very lucrative providing pub landlords are prepared to diversify their offerings, particularly for traditional pubs branching into serving food.

UK Pub Sales News

Minehead Pubs Win Loo of the Year Awards

2011-11-21T03:04:00.000-08:00

A Minehead pub has won acclaim for the quality and standards of its toilets.

The Duke of Wellington was awarded the highest possible rating at the annual Loo of the Year Awards.

The Wetherspoon pub, based in Wellington Square, received a maximum five-star rating at a recent unannounced inspection.

Toilets are judged against numerous criteria, including décor and maintenance, cleanliness, accessible facilities, hygiene equipment and overall management and customer care.

And pub manager Gavin Coughlin expressed his delight at the award.

“I am delighted with the award,” he said.

“Staff at the pub work hard to ensure that the toilets are in first-class condition at all times and it is great that this has been recognised by the inspectors.”

The annual awards are designed to highlight and improve standards of toilet provision in over 1,500 pubs across the UK.

Mike Bone, Managing director of Loo of the Year Awards 2011, added: “The toilets at The Duke of Wellington are extremely good and the pub deserves its five star rating.”

Birth of the Beer Sommelier

2011-11-20T01:48:00.000-08:00

It’s a dispiriting experience familiar to anyone who has ever asked for beer in one of London’s many high-end restaurants. The wine list requires its own trolley and a pair of wheezing waiters to heave it around, but the beers available can be reeled off in two seconds by a curled-lipped sommelier. On offer are a couple of multinational brews and, if you’re lucky, a nod towards Britain’s burgeoning brewing sector in the shape of a fairly safe offering from the world of ale.

There are notable exceptions – some of them with Michelin stars – but they’re few and far between. The situation, however, appears to be improving if three dinners that took place in the capital this week are any guide. Garrett Oliver, the brewmaster at the Brooklyn Brewery and author of the recently-released Oxford Companion to Beer, held court at the Draft House on Tower Bridge Road on Monday and James Martin (above left), chef and television presenter, produced a beer and food matching dinner at the University of West London on Tuesday. Perhaps most interestingly of all, though, was a dinner at Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair on Monday to launch a new beer sommelier scheme.

Four men became the first accredited beer sommeliers as part of a project that, according to the Beer Academy’s Rupert Ponsonby (above, second from left), is intended to get restaurants to start taking beer seriously. “The intention is that they will be a catalyst for bringing in more people from the on-trade,” he says. “Already, Brown’s Hotel say they want people to do the course and to become beer sommeliers – even at the University of West London, they’re saying they want to try it. I think it’s going to light the blue touch paper.”

The four pioneers – all of whom have a background in beer – will not actually work as sommeliers but they’re intended to act as figureheads for the scheme as it evolves, Ponsonby says. In this respect British restaurants will be following in the footsteps of their counterparts across the Atlantic. Food and beer matching is one of Oliver’s pet subjects – he even wrote a book about it, the Brewmaster’s Table – and he points out how learning to match beer and food can improve people’s lives in a very simple way.

“I think that when you turn people on to those things [like pairing food with beer], you run into them a few years later and they’re so happy about this thing that you pointed out,” Oliver (below) says. “I often think that those things happen in a very small moment – like being a jazz fan because someone played you a [John] Coltrane record. On the other side of that door is a slightly better life.”

Stoke Newington Pub for Sale, Greater London

2011-11-19T02:22:00.000-08:00

Greater London Investment Property for Sale

Arundel Arms
Boleyn Road
Stoke Newington
Greater London
N16

Net Saleable: 8299 sq/ft*

£ 1,100,000
Freehold

The development is located on Boleyn Road at its junction with Shellgrove Road and is within easy reach of the superb range of elite shops, bars and restaurants of both Upper Street and Stoke Newington Church Street.

The nearest transport links are: Highbury & Islington Station (Victoria Line and National Rail) and Dalston Junction mainline Stations.

Planning permission has been granted for the demolition of existing public house and erection of a four-storey building comprising 9 flats (4x1 bed, 2x2 bed, 2x3 bed & 1x4 bed) together with 120 sqm. of A1 retail floor space and ancillary cycle spaces.

Both demand and resale values in the area are good.

Please note there is a Section 106 contribution and that this scheme is "car free"

London Site With Planning for Sale

Norwich Freehold Public House For Sale

2011-11-18T06:28:00.000-08:00

Norfolk Pub for Sale, Norwich

West End Retreat
Browne Street
Norwich
Norfolk
NR2

Gross Site Area: 6607 sq/ft*

£ 200,000
Freehold

Public house/development land for sale subject to an occupational tenancy until Jan 2012 @ £13,484 pa. In addition the purchaser will have the benefit of substantial additional income from beer sales. 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.

Approx ground floor foot plate: 1,357 sq ft* (of pub only)
Rateable Value: £5,750

Norwich Public house/development land for sale

Ipswich Brewery Tap pub issues own bonds to raise money

2011-11-18T01:06:00.000-08:00

A pub in Ipswich is to issue its own bonds after failing to get bank loans, reports BBC Suffolk.

The Brewery Tap, on the waterfront, will sell the £500 bonds to customers, who will get a 10% discount on food and drink in return.

Mike Keen, landlord, said: "We would consider putting the pub on the market if we can't raise this money."

Peter Herd, an independent financial adviser, said any investors would have to consider the possibility they could lose their money.

Cable thieves
The landlord said he hoped to raise £20,000 and claimed he would start repaying bond holders their £500 from June 2012.

The pub said the bonds were effectively loans made to them by customers, who would get a financial return in the form of the 10% discount rather than as interest.

Mr Keen said the pub had broken even in October, but they had to improve cash flow.

He said they had lost money last year when thieves stole cabling from the derelict former Tolly Cobbold Brewery nextdoor, which meant the pub had to use an electricity generator for two months.

The landlord who took over the pub two years ago, said: "You hear the government banging on about how they're pressurising the banks to loan to small businesses to kick-start the economy, and it's just not working.

"Customers have said 'if you want a loan or anything let's do it', so now we've structured it into a proper deal.

Biggleswade Pub for Sale, Bedfordshire

2011-11-17T02:34:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Biggleswade, Bedfordshire

Brown Bear
Hitchin Street
Biggleswade
Bedfordshire
SG18

Ground floor footplate: 1841 sq/ft*

£ 275,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The Brown Bear enjoys a prominent position in the small town of Biggleswade, situated just off the town centre of the main circuit into town and only a twenty minute drive from Bedford and surrounded by houses. The property is within easy walking distance of all local shops and amenities.

PROPERTY
The Brown Bear trades from one large open plan room on the ground floor with approximately 60 seats and a trade kitchen.

The first floor accommodation consists of 3 bedrooms, lounge, kitchen and domestic bathroom.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 3,398 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 1,841 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £7,300

Bedfordshire Pub for Sale

Pub Sector Business Failures on the Increase

2011-11-17T01:47:00.000-08:00

Pub trade daily The Morning Advertiser reports that the number of businesses falling into administration in the licensed trade increased by more than one quarter between Q2 and Q3 2011, according to new down-beat figures from the Insolvency Service.

The number of pub and bar operators going into administration more than doubled, from six to 13, although there was one fewer administration among restaurant operators in the quarter (13).

Across the licensed trade, excluding hotels, administrations went from 23 in Q2 to 31 in Q3. Year-on-year comparatives were also bleak for the industry, with 27 administrations in Q3 2010.

There was also a rise in compulsory liquidations in the industry, with 68 in Q3 against 44 in the previous quarter. Meanwhile, the number of company voluntary agreements in the sector fell from 14 to seven between Q2 and Q3 2011.

Peter Cooper, partner at Baker Tilly Restructuring and Recovery LLP, said: “The latest insolvency statistics for the hotel and licensed sectors support our previous predictions. Challenging trading conditions have translated into a significant number of bar, nightclub, restaurant and hotel insolvencies in Q3, with wet led pubs and bars being particularly badly hit. As expected, there is some regional variation with the London markets holding up better than the provinces.

“As Christmas approaches and the prospects for a full scale economic recovery become less certain, the key issues for the sector will continue to centre around consumer confidence and spending power, restricted working capital availability and, as a consequence, the threat that businesses will not be able to absorb the impact of unforeseen events such as adverse weather.

"This may well lead to a greater number of insolvencies in Q4 2011 and Q1 2012.”

Story provided by StockMarketWire.com

Colchester Pub for Sale, Essex

2011-11-16T02:26:00.000-08:00

Wymington Pub for Sale, Bedfordshire

2011-11-15T02:18:00.000-08:00

Bedfordshire Pub for Sale

White Horse
High Street
Wymington
Bedfordshire
NN109LS

Gross Site Area: 6865 sq/ft*

£ 295,000 + VAT

LOCATION
Situated on the Northamptonshire/Bedfordshire border this charming detached public house in Wymington can be found on the High Street directly opposite South Grove. This village location is extremely convenient for easy access to the surrounding towns of Bedford, Rushden, Wellingborough and Northampton.

PROPERTY
This detached building is of stone construction under a tiled pitched roof. To the front is a car park and to the rear a reasonably sized rear garden.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 6,865 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 1,251 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £3,950

Freehold Pub For Sale In Wymington, Bedfordshire

Stella Artois the New Beer Partner For Birmingham NEC Group

2011-11-15T01:54:00.000-08:00

InBev UK Limited, the UK trading arm of leading global brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev, is now the official beer partner for The NEC Group, which includes: the LG Arena, The National Indoor Arena, The National Exhibition Centre and The International Convention Centre. Anheuser-Busch InBev is brewer of global brands Stella Artois, Budweiser and Beck’s.

An exclusive Stella Artois Bar opened last month at the LG Arena to welcome the partnership. The deal also means InBev UK’s beers including Stella Artois, Budweiser, Beck’s and Boddingtons will be available to the four million annual visitors who attend events, conferences and exhibitions at the NEC Group’s venues.

The Stella Artois Bar is the main attraction in forumLIVE, the unique pre- and post-show entertainment zone at the LG Arena, one of Europe’s busiest live entertainment venues.

The sponsored bar is the biggest in forumLIVE and complements a range of established facilities such as restaurants, further bars, digital screens and music – plus the innovative fast pour pumps that can serve up an impressive six pints in seven seconds.

The Stella Artois bar completes the transformation of the LG Arena into a 21st-century entertainment experience following its £29million redevelopment and re-launch at the end of 2009.

Punch Taverns Rent Hike Forces Pub Closure

2011-11-14T03:10:00.000-08:00

A pub landlord says he may be forced to leave his business because the pub owners have hiked his rent up by 60 per cent, according to Bakewell Today.

Dave Mountford, who has run the Rising Sun in Middleton-by-Wirksworth for four years, said the increase by Punch Taverns, the biggest pub company in the UK, would leave him with less than £10,000 per year to look after his family.

Punch has asked for a rent increase from £15,000 to £25,000 in June next year.

Over the past three years, Mr Mountford said he had tripled drinks sales at the pub.

He added: “They now make £85,000 per annum from the pub while we make £20,000.“I was stunned when Punch announced an increase of 60 per cent.

“If the rent increases we will be left with around £10,000 a year to live on.

“I sat down and looked carefully at the figures they have provided and came to the conclusion they are inaccurate.

“We would not be able to stay if the rent went up. It would not be viable.”

Mr Mountford believes Punch has over-valued what he earns and had not included waste costs.

He contacted a list of 18 comparable pubs in the area provided by Punch.

“I phoned up these pubs and they nearly all said they are going out of business. A couple had just received eviction notices. The data showed they are paying much too much rent.”

Trade union GMB now plan to undertake a major survey of pub rents, incomes and costs.

A spokesperson from Punch Taverns said: “We have a Code of Practice that clearly outlines our ways of working and commitments to our licensees and explains what to expect when leasing a pub with Punch.

“The terms we have presented to Mr Mountford are in accordance with our Code of Practice and follow the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors’ guidelines. If we are unable to reach agreement with Mr Mountford, we will follow the provisions set out in our Code of Practice for dispute resolution.”

Belhaven Brewery Hits out over Tennent’s Price Hike

2011-11-14T02:00:00.000-08:00

A second pub company has raised concerns about the potentially “severe” impact of a proposed hike in the price of one of Scotland’s most famous beer brands.

Belhaven, which comprises 300 tenanted, leased and managed pubs in Scotland, said claims of an increase that could add 40p to the cost of a pint of Tennent’s Lager would be felt by customers and the licensed trade north of the Border.

Southampton Freehold Building For Sale

2011-11-13T02:06:00.000-08:00

Hampshire Investment Property for Sale

Plume of Feathers (delicenced)
St. Mary Street
Southampton
Hampshire
SO14

Ground floor footplate: 1661 sq/ft*

£ 275,000 + VAT

LOCATION
The building is 2storey semi-detached and is located on the busy St Mary Street which is predominantly commercial area. The property fronts the main road and the local market trading area. Southampton Rail station is 0.79 miles west of the site and the Bargate shopping centre and West Quay retail park are close by.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Property is being sold delicenced
Development potential (STPP)
Approx ground floor foot plate / gross site area: 1,771 sq.ft*

Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.

The property represents excellent potential for redevelopment (residential / commercial / mixed use) subject to gaining the appropriate Local Authority consents.

Freehold Building For Sale In Southampton, Hampshire

Licensed Property News: BBPA plans to rid pubs of red tape lunacy

2011-11-12T03:13:00.000-08:00

Existing landlords or people looking to buy a pub will be pleased to hear that the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is urging the government to "stick to its guns" on planning reforms that will lead to a reduction in red tape for those seeking to make minor improvements to their premises.

At present public houses and breweries often have to endure long and costly delays when attempting to make often fairly small alterations.

But, at the same time as the BBPA submits evidence on the National Planning Policy Framework, the body is putting pressure on Westminster to follow through with proposed changes to the existing process.

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said the government is correct to pursue a reforming agenda as it is crucial to the UK’s growth and many jobs depend on it.
"We need a 'can do' culture from councils - and this means a presumption in favour of approving improvements or expansions of small and sustainable businesses like breweries or pubs, whilst of course taking on board legitimate development control concerns," she stated.

Last month Michelin Guide editor Rebecca Burr said that despite gloomy economic circumstances, the pub trade is still flourishing for many, adding “what recession?”

Licensed property news

Gobowen Pub for Sale,Oswestry, Shropshire

2011-11-11T02:00:00.000-08:00

Shropshire Pub for Sale, Gobowen

Hart and Trumpet
Station Road
Gobowen, Oswestry
Shropshire
SY11

Gross Site Area

£ 200,000 + VAT

LOCATION
Located approximately 3 miles outside of central Oswestry the property lies opposite Gobowen Rail Station. The immediate surrounding area is predominantly residential.

PROPERTY
Large detached freehold property with large car park to rear. This former public house sits on a site measuring 0.8 acres offering good scope for development (STP).

FURTHER INFORMATION
Offered with full vacant possession
Development Potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 0.81 Acres*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 2,912 sq ft*
Rateable Value: £6,600

All 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 Gobowen Shropshire

The British Beer & Pub Association said the Great British pint keeps getting greener

2011-11-11T01:37:00.000-08:00

The British Beer & Pub Association said the Great British pint keeps getting greener -– 25 per cent rise in energy efficiency adds to great record for UK brewers

• Energy efficiency up 25%, against a target of 20%

• £3m saving for UK brewers in Climate Change Levy payments

• Industry on target for a 67% reduction in carbon by 2020

• New CCA scheme must incentivise smaller brewers too, says BBPA’s Brigid Simmonds

The news that the UK brewing sector has exceeded its climate change targets in results published under the Government’s Climate Change Agreement (CCA). The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), which coordinates the brewing industry’s action to reduce CO2 emissions, says the results show the extent of the industry’s commitment to greener brewing and reductions in energy use.

The strong performance means brewers will save £3 million per year due to reduced Climate Change Levy payments. The BBPA is calling for the Government to ensure the future CCA scheme is affordable for small- and medium-sized brewers to join. This will maximise future carbon savings across the whole UK brewing industry.

Liverpool Pub for Sale, Merseyside

2011-11-10T06:32:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Waterloo, Merseyside

Waterloo Tavern
Queen Street
Liverpool
Merseyside
L22

Gross Site Area: 10571 sq/ft*

£ 275,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
Situated in a residential area of Waterloo. Just off the main shopping area close to local amenities. Near to the local town hall.

PROPERTY
Large lounge area in excellent condition, fully refurbished about 3 years ago. Separate room that is ideal for small functions and occasions. Catering kitchen. Four bedrooms large lounge two bathrooms all of which are in good condition. Garden to the rear.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 10,571sq.ft
Approx ground floor foot plate: 4,305sq.ft
Rateable Value: £19,250

Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.

Freehold Pub for Sale London

Punch Taverns Look for Alternative Lager Suppliers

2011-11-09T03:01:00.000-08:00

Major pub chain Punch Taverns has claimed the brewer of Tennent's lager is pushing prices up sharply reports BBC News.

Punch, which has 311 leased pubs in Scotland, has told landlords they should look to alternative lager suppliers.

It said it will absorb the increased price from 1 November, but only until early in the New Year.

After that, it said it would review supply prices and warned of increases to customers.

In a letter to publicans, Punch wrote: "We will limit (the rise) to whatever extent we can, but we expect the price for Tennent's lager to increase substantially following the review.

"To protect your profitability, we strongly recommend that you act now and take the opportunity to revise and extend your draught lager portfolio before the Punch wholesale price review takes effect."

John Healy, from Punch Taverns, told publicans other major national suppliers would be pleased to discuss options on other draught lagers.

He added: "We expect these alternatives to be competitively priced and well supported with promotional activity."

Ashton-in-Makerfield Hotel for Sale, Wigan

2011-11-08T04:45:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Ashton-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester

Cross Keys Hotel
Ashton-in-Makerfield
Wigan
Greater Manchester
WN4

Gross Site Area: 6439 sq/ft*

£ 200,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The Cross Keys Hotel can be found on the corner of Golbourne Road and Dawber Street. The property is located under 2 miles from Bryn Railway Station and is in close proximity to the M6 Motorway.

PROPERTY
The property is a large detached, two storey brick built building. The Cross Keys Hotel has a garden to the rear and has parking available to the front of the property.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 6,439sq.ft
Approx ground floor foot plate: 1,614sq.ft
Rateable Value: £6,600

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.

Wigan Hotel for Sale

Harlington Pub Granted Planning for Conversion

2011-11-07T02:52:00.000-08:00

A pub with more than a century of history to its name is to be demolished- and turned into a Burger King, Starbucks, and Subway.

The White Hart, at Bath Road, Harlington, will become the latest pub this Autumn to shut its doors.

Both the Fox and Pheasant, and The Swan, in West Drayton, closed down last month.
The trio of big name franchises have been amalgamated by Euro Garages, one of the fastest growing private companies in the UK, looking to capitalise on the busy traffic travelling along the A4 Bath Road.

Hillingdon Council's planning committee called time on the pub at a meeting on October 19.

Weymouth Pub for Sale, Dorset Hotel For Sale

2011-11-06T04:35:00.000-08:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Weymouth, South West

Brownlow Hotel
Ranelagh Road / Brownlow Street
Weymouth
Dorset
DT4

Gross Site Area: 4427 sq/ft*

£ 275,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The pub can be found on the corner of Ranelagh Road and Brownlow Street a short stroll from Weymouths' Blue Flag beach and the Town Centre. Weymouth railway station is also within close proximity.

PROPERTY
The Brownlow Hotel is a large end of terrace property with rendered elavations under a pitched slate tiled roof. To the rear is a small walled garden and garages.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 4,427sq.ft
Approx ground floor foot plate: 2,450sq.ft
Rateable Value: £5,750

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.

Dorset Hotel for Sale,Weymouth

Pub campaigners welcome parliamentary motion to free pubs from tie

2011-11-05T04:56:00.000-07:00

Pub campaign groups have welcomed calls for MPs to back a parliamentary motion on the Government to free landlords from restrictive tied arrangements imposed by pub companies, reports Caterer Search.

The Forum of Private Business warned that the voluntary industry codes of practice introduced in recent years were not working and many pub companies still had a hold over their tenants, who often found themselves tied into unfavourable contracts and subsequently struggle to control costs.

It has now urged ministers to support the Early Day Motion (EDM), tabled by Greg Mulholland MP, chairman of the Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, which calls on ministers to embrace recent recommendations made by the Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) Committee on Pub Companies.

The committee recommended that the Government introduces a statutory code of practice, including a condition that over a period of time all new lessees should be offered a free-of-tie lease with an open market rent review based on Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors' guidance.

The EDM, which pushes for a consultation timetable outlining how the proposed reforms would be implemented, points out that twice as many tied pubs are closing as free-of-tie pubs, and calls for a guest beer option for lessees who choose to remain within tied arrangements.

Bury St Edmunds Pub for Sale, Suffolk

2011-11-04T04:23:00.000-07:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Pakenham, Suffolk

The Fox
Pakenham
Bury St. Edmunds
Suffolk
IP31

Gross Site Area: 1.64 acres*

£ 275,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
Located in a predominantly residential area, the Fox can be found on The Street in the town of Pakenham. The property is just a few miles outside of Bury St Edmunds.

PROPERTY
Large detached two storey building sitting on approximately 1.6 acres. The Fox benefits from a good sized car park to the side and out-buildings to the rear in addition to an extremely large garden.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 1.644 acres
Approx ground floor foot plate: 2,432sq.ft
Rateable Value: £5,600

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, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

UK Pubs Still Hit Hardest By Beer Tax

2011-11-03T04:20:00.000-07:00

Pubs, rather than supermarkets and off licences, are still the hardest hit by beer tax rises reports the Caterer.

That's according to new research from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) in its third quarter Beer Barometer.

The Barometer showed pub beer sales down 4.3% from July to September, compared with the same period last year. Despite that, total beer sales rose by 1.6% thanks to increased sales in the off-trade, although beer sales in the same period a year before were particularly weak as a result of surplus stocks being run down following the Football World Cup.

The drop in pub beer sales is the equivalent to 45 million fewer pints sold over the quarter compared with last year, or 488,000 fewer per day. While the rate of decline is slowing, it has not bottomed out.

The BBPA blamed rising beer taxes at a time when real disposable incomes have fallen.

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: "It is good to see some growth in the beer market overall, and we are seeing some new pubs opening, with successful operators innovating, and broadening their offer to consumers.

"However, there is no doubt that pubs continue to bear the brunt of Britain's punitive tax policies on beer. We've seen beer tax rise by 35% since March 2008, with Britons now paying an astonishing 40% of all the beer taxes collected in the entire European Union. This is still shutting pubs and costing jobs, in a sector that could create growth in the economy.

Brighouse Pub for Sale, West Yorkshire

2011-11-03T02:43:00.000-07:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Bridgehouse, West Yorkshire

Robin Hood
Wakefield Road
Brighouse
West Yorkshire
HD6

Ground floor footplate: 1458 sq/ft*

£ 175,000 + VAT
Freehold

LOCATION
The Robin Hood Public House can be found on Wakefield Road in Brighouse, West Yorkshire. The property is located under half a mile from Brighouse Railway Station offering excellent transport links.

PROPERTY
A two storey brick building

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 1,807 sq.ft*
Approx ground floor foot plate: 1,458 sq.ft*
Rateable Value: £4,400

Unconditional offers are invited for our clients unencumbered interest.

West Yorkshire Pub for Sale

Pub Redevelopment in Yorkshire

2011-11-02T02:24:00.000-07:00

The Yorkshire post reports on concerns raised over new plans to convert a historic pub in Leeds into flats.Leeds City Council has received an application to turn the Kings Arms, on Stocks Hill in Holbeck, into eight flats.

The building, which has been empty for around three years and has had problems with vandalism, is Grade Two listed by English Heritage for its “special architectural or historic interest”. It was built more than 100 years ago.

The application said the proposals were for “quality designed, self-contained, affordable” flats.There would be four with two bedrooms, three with one bedroom and a studio flat.

It said the proposed changes to the building were “insignificant” and added: “The proposals still retain the character of the existing building and the surrounding area and all materials specified are to match existing.”

But The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) wants to see the Kings Arms retained as a pub.
John Thornton, pub preservation officer for the Leeds branch, said: “I’m totally against the idea.“It’s a Grade Two listed building, it’s a public house and that’s its intended use.

Castleford Pub for Sale, West Yorkshire

2011-11-01T02:12:00.000-07:00

Leasehold Pub for Sale Castleford

Sandmartin
Pemberton Road
Castleford
West Yorkshire
WF10

Gross Site Area: 32796 sq/ft*

£ 25,000 + VAT
Leasehold

Lease length: Short leasehold until 2071 @£2750 pa

Approx ground floor foot plate: 6,114 sq ft*

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.

West Yorkshire Pub for Sale, Castleford

Republic of Ireland -1,000 pubs forced to close in

2011-10-31T02:09:00.000-07:00

One in eight bars in the Republic of Ireland have closed in the past six years.

New figures show how the recession, rural depopulation, lifestyle changes and the drink-driving offensive have contributed to the demise of over 1,000 pubs since 2005.

The number of closures is expected to accelerate further in the coming months, with even stricter drink-driving limits being introduced and government cuts set to further slash consumer spending.Revenue Commissioner records obtained by the Irish Independent show the country had 8,617 pubs in 2005, at the height of the Celtic Tiger boom.

However, the number of pubs has fallen by 1,108 to just 7,509 this month.Leitrim has lost almost one-fifth of all its pubs, down from 140 in 2005 to its current 110.

In Donegal, 71 pubs have closed down, leaving 369 of the 440 operating a few years ago. And in Cork, 211 pubs have closed.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/1000-pubs-forced-to-close-in-republic-of-ireland-16067852.html#ixzz1bgkp7b1j

Fuller, Smith & Turner Plc Invest in London Pubs

2011-10-30T01:48:00.000-07:00

Fuller, Smith & Turner Plc have announced the purchase of five new pubs, increasing its reach in Central London and adding 58 bedrooms to the business. The Wellington, Waterloo, The Pavilion End and Bluu in the City of London, The Hand & Flower, Kensington Olympia and The Red Lion Hotel, Wendover have been purchased from Marston's in a deal worth 16 million pounds.Three of the new additions are leasehold and two are freehold properties. The five acquisitions take the total number of pubs in the Fuller's estate to 365.

Swindon Brewery Raises Beer Price By 20p

2011-10-29T02:18:00.000-07:00

Beer drinkers are to be hit in the pocket again as Arkell’s raises the price of a pint, reports the Swindon Advertiser.

In a leaked memo from an angered landlord it was revealed that the local brewery, which has 30 pubs in the town and more than 100 in total, would be raising the price of a pint by up to 20p.

The brewey has blamed an increase in the minimum wage, high energy costs and an increase in employers’ national insurance contributions for the hike.

From today, a pint of 3Bs in an Arkell’s pub will increase from £2.50 to £2.70 and a price of Stella will go up to £3.70 from £3.30.

Craig Titchener, head of managed houses at the brewery, said: “Arkell’s attempts to keep prices as low as they can for as long as they can and I am sure all Arkell’s landlords respect this.

“However, every business is affected by the current economic downturn.

“We have seen a 28 per cent increase in energy costs, a one per cent increase in national insurance and an increase in business rates and minimum wage – they all add up. We don’t do this lightly.”

Chester Le Street Pub for Sale, Durham

2011-10-28T04:08:00.000-07:00

Freehold Pub For Sale In Great Lumley, County Durham

Warriors Arms
Great Lumley
Chester Le Street
Durham
DH3

Ground floor footplate: 1923 sq/ft*

£ 250,000 + VAT

LOCATION
Occupying a bold position on Front Street in Great Lumley, approximately 6 miles north of Durham City Centre. The property lies within convenient distance of the A1(M) with the closest rail station being Chester-le-street.

PROPERTY
Double fronted, detached brick building with small outdoor space. Managers living accommodation upstairs.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Vacant possession
Development potential (STPP)
Approx gross site area: 2,226sq.ft
Approx ground floor foot plate: 1,923sq.ft
Rateable Value: £6,250

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.

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 may be applicable in this matter.

Warrior Arms Pub for Sale, Chester-Le-Street