Property briefs
- Mitchells & Butlers is spending £1.5m refurbishing four pubs on its estate. The sites will join Ember Inns as part of the 135-strong chain. The Nut & Squirrel in Milton Keynes is closing for five weeks in a project costing £350,000, while the Black Horse pub in Orpington, Kent, will reopen this month after a £220,000 refurbishment. The Nightjar in Poole will also join the brand at a cost of £300,000. Oxford pub the Britannia Inn will reopen as an Ember Inn in June following an investment of £591,000.
Robert Barry & Co, the licensed property agent, has relaunched its website at www.robertbarry.co.uk. The new site has been redesigned to provide registered users and browsers with updated information on all properties for sale. All properties on the site are available to be viewed and all sales particulars can be downloaded from the site.
A former CAMRA country pub of the year is up for sale. The Blacksmith's Arms in Preston Le Skerne, near Newton Aycliffe in County Durham, trades as a traditional freehouse and the Grade II listed building dates from the early 1800s. It was originally two stone cottages and it stands in its own grounds with a private garden, children's play area, beer garden and a small animal enclosure. The pub has original beams, a stone fireplace, a bar area for 30 diners, a restaurant with 40 covers, a fully equipped catering kitchen and five-bedroom owner's accommodation. Offers over £400,000 are being sought for the property. Christie & Co is handling the sale. Call 0191 22 1740.
High street pub chain Yates's has given its oldest site a £100,000 makeover. The pub in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, opened in 1893 and remains on the site in Yorkshire Street close to the town centre. It now has state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems as well as a large plasma screen showcasing all the latest music chart videos.
Snug, the style bar run by Style in the City, has been closed for a one-month refurbishment. The site in Camberwell, South London, which is to be called the Castle, is to be converted back into a traditional pub. It will take a modern approach to food, atmosphere and service for the local community. Style in the City has entered into a partnership with Scott Collins, previously general manager of the Sequel and Rapscallion in Clapham, South London, to run the site.
For a comprehensive search of available properties to suit your needs and budget click "/properties">here.
