Cotswolds continuing to “defy national trends” for pub property deals

The Bell Inn in Stow-on-the-Wold has been sold to local operators Sue Hawkins and her niece, Rachel. The pair have transformed several under-achieving pubs with the aim of increasing trade before selling on.

Sue said: “We have always welcomed many visitors from the Cotswolds to our pubs in Stratford-on-Avon and Shipston-on-Stour and we decided to look a little further afield this time.”

The pair have called in a local company to refurbish the pub and hope to be finished by early January.

“The Bell will be a very relaxed refurbishment, which we expect to complete early in 2013,” said Sue.

She added that attention to detail and great customer service was key to their success: “Our ethos is to put the customer first at all times. Locals first with tourists the icing on the cake.”

Hotels director Peter Brunt said: “We have been saying all year that the hotel and pub sector in the Cotswolds is defying national trends and that there are plenty of potential licensees keen to get a foothold here.

“Sue and Rachel Hawkins are well known in the region, having operated the Church Street Townhouse in Stratford-on-Avon, the George at Shipston-on-Stour and the Fox & Goose at Armscote.”

Nicholas Calfe, director at Christie+Co’s Bristol office, agreed that the Cotswolds is a “prime area” for pub sales. “It’s perhaps not as price sensitive as other areas,” he said. “It’s easy to commute to from London, whereas places such as Herefordshire and Cornwall are a little bit further. It’s also an affluent area that attracts trade all year.”

Fleurets has also seen similar trends. Chris Irving, divisional director for the south-west office, said that the area has proved to be more recession proof than elsewhere.