PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Traditional pubs brought to market, Pizzaiolo takes on Greene King site, A Very inc. to launch multi-purpose Manchester venue

12-May-2022 - Last updated on 12-May-2022 at 06:23 GMT

Pub news: Venues bought and sold in the South of England, Scotland and the Isle of Wight

There’s been plenty of activity for pubs in the south of England this week with venues coming to the market as Scotland and the Isle of Wight also see sites put up for sale.

Artfarm to launch venue with traditional pub

Artfarm, the independent hospitality company behind the Fife Arms in Braemer, Scotland, and Somerset’s Roth Bar & Grill, has announced further details of its first London project, the Audley in Mayfair, which will open this autumn.

The venue will offer its guests three distinct experiences: the Audley Public House, a traditional community pub, will sit at street level. The first floor will become Mount St. Restaurant, a new destination restaurant, which then leads to the top three floors housing four spaces available for private hire.

The Audley will also showcase works of art alongside specially commissioned site-specific art interventions created by Hauser & Wirth’s roster of globally celebrated artists.

Pizzaiolo takes on Greene King Pub Partners site after £300k investment

A renowned chef specialising in Italian cuisine has taken on his first pub in the UK following a £300,000 joint investment with Greene King Pub Partners.

Pizzaiolo Claude Camilleri, whose pizzas have previously been ranked in the Worldwide Pizza guide La Enciclopedia Della Pizza, has taken on his first hospitality business in the UK, the Old Mill in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, having operated two well-known pizzerias, called Margos, in Malto for more than 17 years.

Camilleri said: “When I visited Berkhamsted before, I fell in love with the Old Mill pub. As soon as the opportunity came to take it on, I just knew I had to pounce on it.

“Our joint investment with Greene King Pub Partners has enabled us to bring in the state-of-the-art kitchen equipment we need to serve our pizza. It has also enabled us to repurpose some of the pub’s space into a deli and bakery, so we can maximise alternative revenue streams for the pub business.”

Traditional Sussex pub brought to market

Leisure property specialists Fleurets has brought the Queens Head in West Chiltington, West Sussex, to market on behalf of pubco Stonegate.

The traditional two-story detached pub offers a lower dining area (24 covers), upper bar/dining area (50 covers) and a top bar (20 covers), and is available to let on a new free of tie lease with no premium.

There is also onsite car parking (20 spaces) and extensive external trading areas and separate owners’ accommodation including a private roof terrace.

Fleurets South divisional director Nick Earee said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for a new tenant to run a destination pub with extensive trade areas in an affluent part of West Sussex.

“The Queens Head is the hub of the community, so we are looking for a tenant who can really integrate themselves and also draw business from the surrounding area.”

Leasehold for 18^th century pub on market

Fleurets are currently marketing the leasehold of 18^th century pub the Crown Inn, Shorwell, Isle of Wight.

The leasehold of the venue is available to purchase at nil premium and includes all fixtures and fittings from a quick sale.

The historic property offers 80 internal covers and 100 external covers in the side garden, as well as two onsite car parks.

The village of Shorwell is five miles from Newport and is well connected on a bus route, and also picks up one of the main public footpaths that serve the village.

The Crown Inn current owner Mike Benwell said: “The Crown Inn has always had a place in our hearts. When we were growing up we always visited the Crown Inn with our parents, grandparents and great grandparents and have such great memories.”

“We decided to purchase the pub and in our first couple of years of ownership the pub was good to us. Unfortunately with Covid we have had to concentrate on our core pub portfolio so it's now time for someone else to take the pub on. The Crown Inn is a perfect business for any aspiring owner managers or is big enough to work as a managed house.”

Strong start to 2022 for home counties pub market

The year has kicked off to a strong start for the country pub market across the home counties, with business property adviser Christie & Co’s hospitality team completing on six individual pub sales across the region during March alone.

The adviser has seen a flurry of market activity in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire since January, with retirement being a key driver for sales.

Christie & Co said there were a good mix of buyers seeking opportunities outside of city-centres, a trend which has arisen from the pandemic, with first-time buyers, young operators, small expanding operators and couple teams in particular coming to the fore.

Since January, there have been a number of pub sales. These include large, leased pub the Baron Cadogan, Reading, Berkshire, which was sold to local restaurant Clays Kitchen who needed bigger premises.

Furthermore, 19^th century pub the Oxford Arms in Kirlington, Oxfordshire was purchased by a local operator expanding his portfolio with a third site. The existing operators ran the business for 30 years and decided to relocate to Scotland.

Hertfordshire-based 17^th century pub the Kings Lodge in Hunton Bridge was sold due to retirement to an experienced operator heading back into the industry after a long break. Furthermore, thatched pub the Lamb in Little Milton, South Oxfordshire, was purchased by a young couple who left city jobs to fulfil their long-standing dream of buying a pub.

Also, the Horse and Jockey in Ravensden, Bedfordshire, a venue with a large beer garden, was sold to an existing operator looking to expand his portfolio. 16^th century inn the Coach and Horses in Chiselhampton, south Oxfordshire was sold to Barkby Pub company, and is set to reopen shortly after a refurb.

Italian restaurant in Scottish town hits the market

Specialist business property adviser Christie & Co has been instructed to sell Benkaz Ristorante Italiano in the small town of Shotts, North Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Located almost halfway between Edinburgh and Glasgow, the restaurant has been owned by Lorraine Barrow for 13 years, who is now looking to retire.

The property has been refurbished and extended to a high standard, and features an entrance lobby area with a bar that leads to the main dining area and extension. Externally, there is a seating area for up to 10 covers and a car park for five cars.

The restaurant is on the market at offers of more than £350,000 for the freehold going concern.

Christie & Co hospitality business agent Tony Spence commented: “Our client, Lorraine has owned Benkaz since 2009 but has now reluctantly decided to sell to focus on other business interests, meaning an excellent opportunity has become available to purchase a popular restaurant located in the town centre of Shotts.

“The restaurant is well known for its freshly prepared chicken, beef, pizza and pasta dishes and boasts great reviews via Google and TripAdvisor. It has also built a great following on Facebook however, there is plenty of potential for a new owner to come in and introduce a different concept.”

A Very inc. to transform 200,000sq ft factory into site with night market, circus and plant shop

A Very inc. marketing director Andy Windsor took to the stage at yesterday’s MA Leaders Club in Manchester to discuss the company’s role in Manchester’s hospitality scene, which include plans for the development of a 200,000sq ft factory.

This autumn A Very inc. is due to take on a 200,000 sq ft factory called Diecast in a new area of Manchester Piccadilly East.

Some of the building dates back to 1870, with most of the structure harking back to the 1980s. It will include a daytime offering of a bakery, deli and café, with plans to potentially turn the garden area sweeping round the building into a beer garden.

There will be a beer hall and brewery, and a large bar, restaurant and stage with a 2,000 capacity. This will include décor such as large visible stainless steel beer brewing vessels.

Furthermore, the factory will hold space for an open kitchen with a BBQ wood grill, live fire and atmospheric street food serving which could include fresh flat breads and blackened vegetables.

There are also plans for an immersive entertainment night market. This will include a circus, theatre and market stall, with performers in costume. Stalls, small traders, lanterns and a seasonal change of theme are just a few things to look forward to at the market.

During the day, a plant shop, barbers, nail salon and gym will also open their doors, with the gym already launched.

The site will have a focus on sustainability, which will be expressed through electric vehicle charge points, as well as cycle points.

Additionally, there will also be creative and tech offices called Diecast studios, where art and technology intersect. These will operate as small, affordable, short flexible term offices.