Innis & Gunn to open fifth taproom, freeholds on sale and third site for Vaulkhard and Star

High five for Innis & Gunn taprooms

Brewer and bar operator Innis & Gunn is set to open its fifth Brewery Taproom, which will be its second in Glasgow.

On completion of legals, Innis & Gunn will take over a currently vacant site on West Nile Street with an opening date pencilled in for the middle of 2022. The new location will be Innis & Gunn’s largest to date, spanning more than 4,000sq ft.

The established Brewery Taproom format offers customers pub food, ranging from small plates to bigger bar snacks, along with a varied drinks selection.

The city centre location will feature 21 craft beer taps, pouring Innis & Gunn’s full range and limited editions as well as an assorted selection of guest and featured beers from a range of breweries.

Customers can also expect to enjoy brewery fresh Innis & Gunn Tank Lager along with the opportunity to brew their own beer at ‘Brew School’. Shuffleboards that have proved popular at Innis & Gunn events over the years will also be installed.

Innis & Gunn said it is “a proudly accredited ‘living wage’ employer” and the new site will create up to 50 jobs, including ‘brewtenders’, kitchen staff and management.

Innis & Gunn founder Dougal Gunn Sharp said: “I am really pleased we are in the process of creating our fifth Innis & Gunn Brewery Taproom. The location in Glasgow city centre is vibrant and we will be well aligned and in great company with a fantastic mix of local and national operators.

“The Innis & Gunn Brewery Taproom concept has proved popular, and we are continually asked by our community to open more sites so they can further experience our premium bar offering and award-winning beers. We know some people travel from all over to visit our Brewery Taprooms, so this new central location responds to consumer demand and will be a great addition to both our own retail estate portfolio and to Glasgow city centre itself.”

The brewer currently operates four Brewery Taprooms: Ashton Lane, Edinburgh; Leith; and Dundee.

Pub in village that is home to bottle kicking and pie throwing game for sale

The freehold of 16th century Bewicke Arms pub with additional letting rooms, located in the picturesque South Leicestershire village of Hallaton – the home of the traditional ‘Hallaton Bottle Kicking and Hare Pie Scramble’​ – is on the market with an asking price of over £700,000.

The building, which maintains many of its original features including stone façade, oak beams and fireplaces, is being marketed by property agent Christie & Co.

Prior to closing, the pub was known as a high-quality destination for food, drinks and accommodation. The site has a main bar, secondary bar, separate restaurant, spacious kitchen and first-floor multi-functional space. It also has three letting rooms and a barn conversion retail space in a separate building.

To the rear of the buildings is a covered outside trading area, with stunning views across the rolling Leicestershire countryside.

Owners since 2006, Simon and Claire Tait, said: “We have absolutely loved our time at the Bewicke. It has been a pleasure to be part of such an enchanting, historical place, being one of the oldest and most well-known traditional inns in country.”  

The village of Hallaton plays host to the annual ‘Bottle Kicking and Hare Pie Scramble’, an ancient Leicestershire custom to race barrels across a local stream, claimed to be one of the country’s oldest sports and is thought to be the inspiration for rugby union, that takes place each year on Easter Monday.

Christie & Co said the property offers substantial growth potential with multiple revenue streams including extensive internal trade areas, outside trade areas, letting bedrooms and additional retail space. Utilising the spacious dining areas and versatile function spaces, a new owner has the potential to increase the events and function side of the business.

James Buist-Brealey, business agent in Christie & Co’s Hospitality team is handling the sale and said: “The Bewicke Arms is a much-loved pub with many traditional features, which sits pride of place in the beautiful village of Hallaton. This is a rare opportunity to own such an attractive freehold pub which offers exciting potential to a new operator.”

Vaulkhard Leisure takes on third lease with Star Pubs & Bars

Newcastle-based leisure operator Vaulkhard Leisure has taken on a lease for the Diamond pub in Ponteland​, bringing its estate to 20 pubs, bars and cafes. The group is co-investing £350,000 with Star Pubs & Bars to bring the pub, which has 12 en-suite Wi-Fi fitted letting rooms and a function room, up to a modern standard.

The Diamond is Vaulkhard Leisure’s third lease with Star Pubs & Bars. The others are: Swarley’s in the Groat Market in Newcastle and Staith House on the Fish Quay in North Shields.

Director Ollie Vaulkhard (pictured below) said: “We have moved away from late-night venues to those with broader appeal and will continue to invest and grow in the region. Unlike other parts of the country, we saw strong performance in Newcastle city centre from April 2021, especially midweek. I think it is because we don’t have the same proportion of commuters. The city didn’t lose its workforce. It was still a nice place to socialise.  Even though some people did work from home, they continued to come into the city for leisure. I have enjoyed watching our sites build trade and see customer and staff happy once again.”

To read more on this story, click here​.

Grade II-listed site freehold on sale for £1.45m

The Great House Hotel & Restaurant in the medieval village of Lavenham in Suffolk has been brought to market by property agent Christie & Co.

The grade II-listed building in the centre of the village is claimed to be “one of England’s finest boutique hotels with an award-winning restaurant, recognised with two AA Rosettes”.

The property dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries when it was built by the Caustons, an important weaving family during the height of the town’s reputation as England’s wool capital.

The Great House has operated as a fine-dining restaurant and hotel for many years. The current owners, Dominique and Julie Tropeano, have owned and operated the business since 2016.

Since acquiring it, the couple have invested significantly into refurbishing the property and planning consent has also been obtained enabling the ground floor accommodation to be reconfigured. 

The Tropeanos said: “We have enjoyed the past four years managing the Great House. While it has been challenging, it has been incredibly rewarding. The level of service and quality of the food served remains to the highest level of customer expectation for this type of establishment.”

Tim Gooding, director in Christie & Co’s Hospitality team who is handling the sale adds: “The Great House is an iconic building sitting in the heart of well-known Lavenham and this combined with an excellent business will we’re sure generate demand from the market which, last year in particular, defied expectations and turned out to be one of our busiest years on record in the region, reflecting long term confidence in a very robust hospitality sector. Julie & Dominique have created a stunning ambience in the rooms and restaurant, which has driven substantial levels of repeat trade from a discerning clientele who keep returning to enjoy first class food, service and accommodation.’’

The Great House Hotel & Restaurant is on the market on a freehold basis, with a guide price of £1,450,000.

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