Couple snap up Turpin's bolt hole'

A coaching inn in Cambridgeshire, reputed to have been used as a bolt hole by Dick Turpin, has changed hands through Fleurets' Sudbury office. The Hardwicke Arms, a 12-bedroom period coaching inn at Arrington near Cambridge, is thought to date back to the 13th century. It is on an old Roman road, Ermine Street, which links Royston to Huntingdon, and was used extensively by highwaymen. The historic hotel and freehouse has a 65-cover function room, two panelled bars and "olde worlde" restaurant. It backs on to the grounds of the largest stately home in Cambridgeshire, Wimpole Hall, which is owned by the National Trust. Joachim Julius had run the Hardwicke Arms for 10 years with his wife and son. The property was sold off a freehold asking price of £545,000. New owners are chef David Nash and his wife, Sam, who have moved to the area after running a successful business close to Bristol. Fleurets associate, Anthony Jenkins, said: "The sale of this archetypal coaching inn offers huge potential for the new owners in this expanding area of the county, close to the new village of Camborne in addition to the historic Wimpole Hall.