A popular village freehouse inn, which has a reputation with

The Stags Head Inn, at Yarlington near Wincanton, is ideally situated just a few minutes drive from the main A303 Honiton to London road, located in beautiful countryside but still benefiting from an extensive catchment area. It has been run for the past 18 months by Steve, Gill and Lucy Culverhouse, who are now pursuing new interests, and they have instructed agents Bettesworths to market it on their behalf. The Stags Head features two main trading areas and the Royal Box bar. The pub also benefits from a trade patio with a BBQ and a large, pretty trade garden, complete with a stream. The bar boasts plenty of rustic character and stone flagged floors, believed to date back to the late 1800s, while the Royal Box section is housed in an attractive glass timber surround and used by the locals as a meeting and drinking place. There is also another character bar with high back settles, a church pew, two long tables and a variety of other rustic pieces. An under-used dining room has recently been reinstated as part of the attached cottage, which is not included in the sale. The former skittle alley is currently used for storage and could be converted to a further dining area or bed and breakfast accommodation, subject to planning approval. The private accommodation, with its own exterior entrance, includes two en suite bedrooms and a spacious lounge. The Culverhouses enjoy an affluent local clientele and benefit from a considerable amount of passing trade with motorists, who search them out after leaving the main A303. The pub has a good reputation for food and real ale and enjoys a healthy turnover and profit. The business is made up of 54% food sales and 46% wet. Turnover for the year ending 30 November 2002 was in excess of £160,000 net of VAT, and the first five months of the current trading year has seen an overall increase of more than 50%. Matt Bettesworth, of the selling agents, explained the business has been conducted as a "way of life" and that there is an opportunity to further increase turnover by opening for longer hours as the pub currently trades for five-and-a- half days per week. Bettesworths is inviting offers in excess of £300,000 for the freehold.