Former Leeds United striker Steve Balcombe looks to retire after 41 years in hospitality
Specialist business property adviser Christie & Co has been instructed to market The Victoria, a well-established pub and restaurant located in the village of Cattal, near York.
Business. Built around You.
Former Leeds United striker Steve Balcombe has owned and operated various pubs in the area, including the Duke of Wellington in East Keswick, The Crown Inn at Great Ouseburn, and The Bull Inn at West Tanfield, and has enjoyed the last 21 years at The Victoria in Cattal. He is now looking to sell the business and retire.
The Victoria sits at the epicentre of the proposed Maltkiln village, a development that would see 4,000 new homes built as well as two primary schools, along with other amenities. Situated directly adjacent to Cattal train station and close to major road links including the A59 and A1(M), the pub benefits from excellent accessibility for both local residents and destination diners travelling from York, Harrogate and Leeds.
Occupying a substantial 0.97‑acre site, The Victoria offers significant potential for further development. A large area of unused land currently serves as overflow parking but could be transformed, subject to planning permission, into additional income-generating space such as glamping pods, lodges or accommodation. Externally, the pub also features an attractive trade garden with seating for more than 100 customers, as well as parking for approximately 50 cars.
The first-floor owner’s accommodation includes three bedrooms, a lounge, kitchen-diner and bathroom, making it well suited to both owner-operators and those looking to introduce a management structure.
The pub also has the potential to trade for longer hours, with the owners currently choosing not to so they can spend time pursuing hobbies and spending time with family.
Steve and his wife Gillian commented, “We have absolutely loved our time here at The Victoria, and we have some amazingly loyal customers. It will be with a heavy heart that we hand over the keys when the time comes, because we’ve loved every minute of it.
“In the meantime, it is still business as usual, and we are gearing up for a very busy spring-summer.”
David Cash, Regional Director at Christie & Co, added, “Opportunities to acquire freehold free houses in such advantageous trading locations rarely come to market. The business has traded consistently well for two decades and has huge potential for growth, with or without the new housing development. We expect interest from corporate pub companies as well as regional and local multi-site operators.”
The Victoria is on the market with a freehold asking price of £850,000. To find out more about the property, visit: https://www.christie.com/5455567/
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