8344L

• Traditional inn situated in the prime English country village of Penshurst.
• Welcoming and inviting Lounge Bar (circa 40+), a cosy Snug (circa 10) and a versatile and multi-functional Restaurant (circa 30 covers).
• Good sized paved and decked Beer Garden (circa 100+) with delightful countryside views and Patron’s Car Park for circa 50 cars.
• Impressive 4/5 Bedroomed Family Accommodation.
• Fully equipped Commercial Catering Kitchen.
• Presented in superb condition, exuding a wealth of charm and character throughout with open fires and quarry tiled floors.
• Advised turnover for Y/E October 2019 circa £565,000 (incl. VAT).
• 40% wet sales and 60% food sales. Immense potential for catering/events orientated operators.
• Private ‘FREE OF TIE’ renewable lease with approximately 11 years remaining.

Location

This outstanding business can be found in the affluent and highly sought after and historic village of Penshurst in the beautiful county of Kent and can be easily reached from the A264/B2188 near Royal Tunbridge Wells. Having excellent road communications providing easy access to the M23, M25 and M20 motorways makes this superb location an extremely popular commuter area for the major motorways and the major international airports of Gatwick and Heathrow.

This exquisitely traditional village inn is extremely well positioned to draw trade from the catchment areas of many similar affluent villages and towns in addition to being situated close to Sevenoaks and Tonbridge and also close by to the 14th Century authentic stately home of Penshurst Place and Gardens attracting an abundance of visitors and tourists all year round! An enviable place to reside and a compelling trade opportunity.

THE PROPERTY

Main entrance at the front leading into the lobby with access into the Lounge Bar (circa 40+) is a good sized traditional and welcoming room having a feature central return bar servery with a solid polished counter and a matching back fitting with trade optics and refrigerated bottle coolers (not tested); which is complemented by an excellent eclectic range of solid oak tables and a mix of chairs and upholstered bar stools. Adding to the charm of this room is the feature brick built inglenook open fireplace, the quarry tiled flooring, the beamed ceiling and beamed walls. There is also an additional brick built fireplace with an inset log burner. Access to the Beer Garden.

Snug (circa 10) is a cosy area having a solid oak table and fixed upholstered perimeter seating. Adding to the ambience is the brick built open fireplace, the panelled walls and the beamed ceiling.

Restaurant (circa 30 covers) exuding a wonderful comfortable and relaxing ambience being versatile and multi-functional for a variety of different uses and is well furnished with an eclectic range of solid polished tables and a mix of upholstered chairs. There is also a brick built fireplace with an inset log burner, a beamed ceiling, timber pillars and beamed walls adding to the charm and character.

Catering facilities include a good sized fully equipped Commercial Kitchen with stainless steel appliances and preparation surfaces (appliances not tested). There is also a wash-up area, a fridge/freezer room, a dry goods store room and a timber storage unit housing a walk-in chiller. There is also a staff changing/shower room.

Lower Ground Floor Cellar with dray drop, pumps, python, post mix and cooler.

Ladies and Gents W.C.’s.

OWNERS ACCOMMODATION

Situated on the 1st and 2nd floors, being of a good size and presented in excellent decorative order briefly comprises: 4/5 Bedrooms, Dressing Room/Bedroom 5, Lounge, Kitchen, Bathroom and a Shower Room.

There is also a very good sized storage room and a laundry room which could quite easily be converted into a function room or letting accommodation (STPP).

EXTERNAL

At the rear there is a good sized tiered paved and decked Beer Garden (circa 100+) with delightful views over the neighbouring rolling countryside and is furnished with an excellent range of timber picnic benches. There is also a paved terrace (circa 30+) at the front with timber picnic benches. There is also a Patron’s Car Park opposite for circa 50 cars. There is also a Private Garden.

TRADING HOURS

We are advised that the business trades with the benefit of the Premises Licence (not seen) which permits the sale of alcohol during the hours of:

Monday – Saturday – 10.00am – 11.20pm

Sunday – Midday – 10.50pm

The current opening hours are as follows:

Monday – Saturday – 11.30am – 11.00pm

Sunday – Midday – 10.30pm

NB. Important. Prospective purchasers wishing to continue to operate the public house should ensure that they gain the APLH Qualification in readiness for their intended operation of the Public House.

GENERAL REMARKS

The business is offered for sale as a lease assignment with approximately 11 years remaining of the private FREE OF TIE, full repairing and insuring, renewable agreement. We are informed that the rent is currently circa £55,000 per annum. We are advised that at the end of the term, the Lease (not seen by Guy Simmonds) should be renewable with no further premium – subject to the provision of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954.

We are advised that the inn benefits from all mains service with the exception of LPG gas for cooking and heating (services not tested). Business rates are advised as being £?????? per annum.

THE BUSINESS

Our vendor clients operate this excellent business as a ‘husband and wife’ team on a ‘hands-off’ and a ‘part time’ basis respectively with the assistance of 3 full time and 6 part time/casual staff. Trade is currently derived from approximately 40% wet sales and 60% food sales.

Whilst emulating the current successful business model; there is still tremendous potential for a new full time hands-on owner operator partnership with previous experience of running a catering/events orientated operation to take the business to the next level by exploiting the obvious potential that is to be found here.

There are many additional areas of potential to increase sales and profitability by implementing a strategic marketing campaign to utilise the premises for private parties, wakes and functions etc. Advised turnover for Y/E October 2019 circa £565,000 (incl. VAT).

This extremely popular village inn is a well-established and highly successful business and in our opinion with the above areas of potential we would quite easily expect fully focussed and fully committed operators to achieve a turnover well in excess of £650,000 (incl. VAT).

Accounting information will be made available to interested parties after viewing.

Viewing appointments must be made by contacting Guy Simmonds at sales@guysimmonds.co.uk.

Details Prepared: December 2019