New owner takes on Winchester village pub, the Fox & Hounds
The Fox & Hounds in the desirable Hampshire village of Crawley, has been sold by specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co.
Having been closed for 18 months, this Grade II listed freehold pub with accommodation always represented a tremendous opportunity due to its proximity to the City of Winchester and the market town of Stockbridge.
The pub was listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) and no doubt the local community will be delighted to see the doors re-open on the pub they sought to protect, especially to the buyer Lenny Carr-Roberts, who is a well respected local operator.
Richard Wood, Business Agent in Christie & Co’s Winchester office who handled the sale comments, “I was delighted to facilitate the transaction which will see another of Winchester’s iconic pubs re-open its doors with a successful operator at the helm. We wish Lenny every success in what will be a strong business for many years to come.
“Pubs which are still viable businesses are all too often being snapped up by developers to be converted into housing or other alternative uses so it’s fantastic in this case to be assisting in re-opening the doors on what is a truly magnificent pub.”
Incoming owner, Lenny Carr-Roberts comments, “I am very pleased and excited on the purchase of the Fox & Hounds. Far too many village pubs have closed in the last 12 years, due to poor investment and high brewery rents. Crawley is a beautiful village and deserves a successful independent village pub for its community.
“It was nine years ago that we bought The Bugle Inn – Twyford, after it had been closed for three years. After huge investment and hard work, it became Winchester’s No.1 Rated Restaurant and has been for the last five years. The whole Bugle team are thrilled at having a second business to show off their skills.
“At the Fox & Hounds we will be investing heavily in the building itself and totally refurbishing the interior and exterior. Our aim is to make the Fox & Hounds the pub in the country you always want to visit. A new and larger kitchen will be the engine room of the business and I can’t wait to start cooking local produce in it. As with The Bugle Inn, we will be serving locally brewed beers as well. We plan to open in Spring 2018.”
The pub was sold off a guide price of £650,000.
