Free house for sale in South Molton

This property is marketed by:
Sidney Phillips

Key Features

• Exmoor National Park
• Well know hunting inn/equestrian property
• Free house set in over five acres
• Level paddocks, six stables and a barn
• Spacious trading accommodation. Car park. Beer garden
• Three ensuite letting rooms. Further letting potential.
• Owners accommodation in two flats.

Location

The Sportsmans Inn occupies a roadside position beside the B3227 mid-way between the villages of North Molton and Withypool, both of which are approximately 4 miles distant. The Sportsmans Inn is close to the southwest perimeter of Exmoor National Park and stands beside the Somerset/Devon border. It occupies over five acres of high ground, from which there are views across the national park. Sandyway is a small hamlet. Withypool is a major tourist attraction which stands on the Two Moors Way which partly follows the River Barle to Tarr Steps. Nearby North Molton is a larger village and has amenities which include a convenience store. The A361 (North Devon Link Road) is approximately 7 miles away, adjacent to the town of South Molton which has wide range of facilities including a number of businesses and a population of over 5,000 people. 

The Exmoor National Park is one of fifteen national parks in the UK and is famous for its wildlife, deer and ponies. The northern boundary of the park runs beside the dramatic coastline of Devon and West Somerset.

Property

TRADE AREAS 

• Ground floor external footprint is approximately 543m² (5,800sq²). 
• Front ENTRANCE into the MAIN BAR which is of considerable country character with stone walls featuring two stone fireplaces, one of which has an inset bread oven and a log burning stove. The other is used for display. The furnishings include fitted carpet and dark wood refectory furniture seating approximately 36. An unusual feature is the circular stone wall surround, glass top water well. Dark wood panel faced bar servery counter with back bar display feature. 
• A FUNCTION ROOM/CARVERY adjoins and also doubles as a SKITTLE ALLEY with a removable skittles playing surface. Again, there are stone wall features, beams, wall lights and fitted carpet. Similar refectory furniture seating 80 with rustic panelled carvery counter. Tiled floor POOL ROOM. LADIES’ AND GENTLEMEN’S CUSTOMER TOILETS. 
• CATERING KITCHEN with quarry tile floor, PREPARATION ROOM with grease trap, DRY GOODS STORE. BOTTLE STORE. Proprietor’s OFFICE. WASH UP/FREEZER STORE with adjoining STORE. WORKSHOP with adjoining ROOM. 
• A front section adjacent to the entrance is unused with scope to convert to a self-contained letting unit. 

OWNERS ACCOMMODATION

Comprising two flats.

• MAIN FLAT 

Three DOUBLE BEDROOMS, one of which is currently used as an OFFICE. LOUNGE/DINING ROOM. First floor BATHROOM with over bath shower. Staircase leads to the ground floor level where there is a modern KITCHEN and a second BATHROOM. 

• FLAT TWO

A smaller sized flat with SITTING ROOM, DOUBLE BEDROOM, SHOWER ROOM and a STOREROOM. 

LETTING ACCOMMODATION 

At first floor level and providing three twin or double sized BEDROOMS, all of which have EN SUITE SHOWER ROOMS. The letting accommodation is furnished with modern pine furniture. 

A further first floor level area is used for STORAGE. It also accommodates the solar panel controls but would be ideal to convert to further letting rooms or a self-contained holiday flat. 

EXTERNAL 

The Sportsman Inn stands within 2.2 hectares (5.22 acres). The property is set back from the road by a FORECOURT. There is access either side of the property. Most of the ground is occupied by two fields, both being in excess of two acres, with a third PADDOCK also used as an overspill CAR PARK able to accommodate horse boxes and coaches. A six box L-shaped timber STABLE block has been built and incorporates a TACK ROOM. This is also served by a substantial timber constructed BARN/TRACTOR HOUSE. Mature lawned BEER GARDEN. GENERATOR HOUSE with back-up generator. Across the road is a CAR PARK from which there are panoramic views of Exmoor National Park. 

Development of an EE 4G & Emergency Communications Mast with Openreach Fibre connectivity to the site is underway behind the property’s left-hand paddock. This will give the future owners the benefit of uninterrupted 4G mobile access and the possibility of fibre connectivity to the property in the near future. The proposed completion date is November 2023.

The Business

In present ownership since 1995. The owners are beyond retirement age and decided not to reopen after the COVID shut down in 2020. Prior to this, the Sportsman Inn had been a well-known Exmoor National Park free house noted for its carveries and charity supporting quiz nights. The Sportsman Inn also hosted skittle and pool teams.

This is a substantial property in large grounds which offers considerable scope for new owners to modernise the building and its facilities and capitalise on its vast potential.

Tenure

FREEHOLD £565,000 to include fixtures and fittings