Retirement sale after 7 years as licensees.
New owners looking to put the Inn back on the map
Set in a prominent position in the Dartmoor moorland village of South Brent in Devon, The Pack Horse Inn has been sold through licensed property specialists Stonesmith of Exeter.
After 7 years Linda and Ken Austin have now retired and the new owners are Steve and Marian Finch, who for the past 10 years have been waiting for the right time to venture out and run their own business. Between them they have experience in catering, hospitality and customer service and felt it was a now or never chance to follow their dream.
Steve and Marian say that they have been delighted with the welcome from the locals and demand for the letting rooms has been excellent. Already, in their short time, they are getting word of mouth recommendations, repeat business and increasing trade. Most of the changes so far have been slight but have had a big impact on custom. The tea room has been refurbished, including redecoration and new carpets, and they now provide home made cakes and cater more to local demand.
Other changes have been the upgrading of services, reconfiguring the bar area, a change of bar snacks, a comfortable settee installed by the fireplace, new planting in the beer garden along with new picnic style seating and table umbrellas. They also have a new website coming soon, www.thepackhorse.co.uk
The menus have been changed to provide “honest pub grub”. As well as a main menu there is a traditional Sunday roast, themed food evenings, a children’s menu and a wide choice of pizzas, as they have their own pizza oven. One of Steve’s main aims is to keep the consistency of the food up, including quality and service.
The local trade is both important to Steve and Marian and unites them in community life. The Inn is home to various teams including euchre and football, with music nights, quizzes and folk evenings.
The Pack Horse is a substantial village centre property which briefly comprises a main bar with seating for 56, a 16 seat tea room, well equipped catering kitchen with ancillary back up facilities, 4 en-suite letting rooms and a 3 bed owners apartment, with additional family and friends guest accommodation.
Outside the property benefits from a 60 seat beer garden and customer car park.
The Pack Horse Inn is a leasehold business, which Stonesmith sold off a guide price of £53,000. Similar properties for sale are on the website www.stonesmith.co.uk or by calling 01392 201262.
