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Newbury Today Forum _ Newbury News _ Another Coutry Pub/Restaurant closes

Posted by: gel Nov 16 2017, 03:33 PM

Another one gone:

Just seen via Twitter (don't recall NWN mentioning) that the Winterbourne Arms Pub/Restaurant,
closed in October.
New owner intends to demolish for yet more housing sad.gif

Posted by: dannyboy Nov 16 2017, 06:43 PM

QUOTE (gel @ Nov 16 2017, 03:33 PM) *
Anther one gone:

Just seen via Twitter (don't recall NWN mentioning) that the Winterbourne Arms Pub/Restaurant,
closed in October.
New owner intends to demolish for yet more housing sad.gif

It has been shut for a lot longer than that. Still, it is up for sale, as a pub. £430,000 guide price.

Posted by: blackdog Nov 16 2017, 11:04 PM

QUOTE (dannyboy @ Nov 16 2017, 06:43 PM) *
It has been shut for a lot longer than that. Still, it is up for sale, as a pub. £430,000 guide price.


Therein lies the problem - worth £430k as a pub, much more as a private house.

Still - The Castle at Donnington has re-opened.

Posted by: Mr Brown Nov 17 2017, 08:30 AM

As on the other thread, it just comes down to business economics. The price of the premises isn't bad, no matter what you want to do, but the day of the traditional village pub is clearly over, just as it is for the traditional high street shop. Perhaps we ought to change the stereotypical view of what village life should look like.

Posted by: dannyboy Nov 17 2017, 10:30 AM

QUOTE (blackdog @ Nov 16 2017, 11:04 PM) *
Therein lies the problem - worth £430k as a pub, much more as a private house.

Still - The Castle at Donnington has re-opened.



As it is offered at 'only' £430K I suspect that it can only be a pub.

Those nice people from the Red House at Marsh Benham behind the Castle revival IIRC.

Posted by: On the edge Nov 17 2017, 12:01 PM

QUOTE (dannyboy @ Nov 17 2017, 10:30 AM) *
As it is offered at 'only' £430K I suspect that it can only be a pub.

Those nice people from the Red House at Marsh Benham behind the Castle revival IIRC.


What happens if no one is willing to buy it and run it as a pub, even with a substantial reduction in price? If we are really honest, selling a few beers even with half a dozen dinners 7 days a week isn't going to be that profitable, even if you exclude the cost of the property.

Posted by: dannyboy Nov 17 2017, 12:33 PM

QUOTE (On the edge @ Nov 17 2017, 12:01 PM) *
What happens if no one is willing to buy it and run it as a pub, even with a substantial reduction in price? If we are really honest, selling a few beers even with half a dozen dinners 7 days a week isn't going to be that profitable, even if you exclude the cost of the property.



Two options

- locals buy it & run it as a community pub.
- apply for change of use

I suspect it for sale as the owners have retired from the pub business.

Posted by: On the edge Nov 18 2017, 10:08 AM

QUOTE (dannyboy @ Nov 17 2017, 12:33 PM) *
Two options

- locals buy it & run it as a community pub.
- apply for change of use

I suspect it for sale as the owners have retired from the pub business.


You are probably right, like any small business, if there was a commercial future, it would have been sold on seamlessly. A community pub may well work in the short term, but it does depend on volunteers and locals willing to cough up some capital. In our society, you can't buck the market.

Posted by: Strafin Nov 19 2017, 09:06 AM

It is a nice pub and it probably turns a profit. Most pubs do, it's just everyone (especially in more affluent areas) expect more propfit. They want second homes, foreign holidays and flash cars. Simply making a living isn't all that ayttractive. Especially when you are working pub hours

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