Pack for sale to suit aspiring pub player
A highly-unusual property is up for sale in Combe Martin, on the north Devon coast. The Pack o' Cards Inn was designed around the theme of a pack of cards.
It covers four floors to represent the four card suits, has 13 rooms for the number of cards to a suit, 52 windows, 52 stairs and was supposedly built on a ground-floor area measuring 52 feet by 52 feet.
The Grade-II listed property was built in 1690 by George Ley from the proceeds of a large win at a game of cards.
Sellers Chris and Debbie Batchelor have run the pub as a family business for
10 years.
Their children grew up there and daughter Sarah is currently running the bar while son James is a chef in the kitchen, a career he plans to continue with.
Chris Batchelor said: "We really threw ourselves in at the deep end, neither of us had ever had any experience at running a pub - we never even went out to pubs.
"We've really enjoyed our time here, but we've had enough now. We're going to take a year out and do some sailing."
Michael Easton, of Christie+ Co's Exeter office, said: "The Pack o' Cards is undoubtedly a famous local monument. Given that its high profile and profitability have been achieved without the benefit of any advertising, the growth potential here is enormous, offering many development opportunities and great scope to increase income. This excellent landmark freehouse will certainly tick all the boxes for many buyers."
The property is on the market with Christie+Co which is looking for offers over £1.2m for the freehold interest.
