18th century village pub in Melmerby, Cumbria sold as owners retire
Specialist business property adviser Christie & Co has announced the sale of The Shepherds Inn, a historic pub nestled at the foot of Hartside Pass, Cumbria.
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Built in 1789, The Shepherds Inn has over 200 years of history as a hospitality venue, attracting trade from travellers, tourists and locals alike. The pub is renowned for its excellent food and drink offering, having featured in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide and with a five-star rating on TripAdvisor.
The pub is situated in the picturesque village of Melmerby, on the edge of the Eden Valley and approximately nine miles east of Penrith.
The Shepherds Inn had been owned by the Haddow family for seven years, operated by husband-and-wife team Mike and Margaret. After more than 50 years in the hospitality industry, they have decided to retire and sell the pub to step back from the sector.
Former owner Mike Haddow said, “Having started working in a pub at the age of 15, we bought The Shepherds Inn in 2018 to complete a full circle in my career, going from pot washer to group executive chef to the pub I operated with my wife Margaret. After spending over 50 years in catering, we have now reached the right time to retire, having completed our journey and helped to transform our historic village pub from inconsistent and unloved back to its former glory.
“In today’s difficult market, at first, we weren’t sure how to go about the sale process, but I met Marslie at the Lakes Hospitality Trade Show and was aware of Christie & Co’s reputation. We are pleased that the sale has successfully completed, and we are grateful for the support and advice provided by Marslie as well as our team of solicitors at Burnetts.”
Marslie McGregor, Business Agent at Christie & Co, added, “The Shepherds Inn offered a brilliant opportunity for a hospitality operator to acquire a renowned, characterful, freehold premises in the beautiful Cumbrian countryside. The business is highly regarded and has upheld an excellent reputation for many years. It was a pleasure selling the pub on behalf of Mike and Margaret, who are now looking forward to a well-deserved retirement, and I wish the new owners all the success in their new venture.”
The pub was sold off an asking price of £375,000 for the freehold.
For further information on this press release, contact:
Jasmine Davis, Corporate Communications Manager
P: +44 7561 115179
E: jasmine.davis@christie.com
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