Chequers finds a mate with new owner

A renowned food-led country inn in the picturesque Vale of Belvoir has been sold through the Nottingham office of agents Christie & Co. The 17th century Chequers Inn is a high quality freehouse in the main street of the picturesque village of Woolsthorpe-by-Belvoir, located just within the Lincolnshire border and close to the historic Belvoir Castle (home of the Duke of Rutland) in Leicestershire. The Chequers has been sold on behalf of Nick and Yoanna Potter, who are moving on after four years of ownership. The new owner, Justin Chad, has spent the last five years running Faces, a nightclub in Nottingham. Constructed in the 17th century as a village bakery and farmhouse, the property has been sympathetically restored and retains much of its character, with open fireplaces, exposed beams and stonework. The original oven still remains and is now an attractive feature in the adjoining Bakehouse Restaurant. The Chequers stands in a plot of approximately 3.28 acres with ample parking facilities, beer garden with additional seating, boules court and the village cricket pitch. The stable block has been converted to provide four en-suite letting rooms with one twin room, two double rooms and a family room. There is also owner's accommodation with three double bedrooms, living room, kitchen, dining room and bathroom. The business boasts an ex-cellent reputation for food and is included in the Michelin Guide with sales of 60% dry and 40% wet. Additional income is derived from the function room used for weddings and birthday celebrations. Paul Steward, from the Nottingham office of Christie and Co, said: "This well established country inn attracted a high level of interest for prospective purchasers, as freehold freehouses of this calibre are in extremely high demand." The Chequers was sold for an undisclosed figure from an asking price of £600,000 for the freehold.