Yorkshire inn sold to Trust Inns

A traditional coaching inn in North Yorkshire has been sold to Trust Inns, in excess of an asking price of £625,000 for the freehold.

Trust Inns is one of the UK’s longest standing, privately owned pub companies with a national portfolio of 350 venues across the UK.

The Holly Hill Inn is situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, near the market town of Richmond.

It features a pub and restaurant space that serves British and continental food as well as local ales, and features open fires and exposed wooden ceiling beams. 

Its beer garden also offers views of Richmond Castle, which dates back to the 1070s, and is one of the best-preserved Norman fortresses in Britain.

The inn also has four deluxe en-suite bedrooms that are situated in a separate building to the rear of the property. 

Its previous owner, Les Calvert made the decision to sell in order to retire from the sector.

Calvert said: “I’ve had regular calls and meetings with David Cash from Christie & Co for a number of years, so when the time came to sell The Holly Hill I felt confident in his ability, knowledge and experience to get me the best result. 

“David found me a buyer at the start of this year and he worked hard to ensure the deal progressed at the earliest opportunity, despite the challenge of lockdown at around the time contracts were due to exchanged. I would not hesitate to recommend David and indeed Christie & Co to anybody considering the sale of their business.”

Trust Inns has retained the business’ manageress and other staff, and “intends to run the inn in a similar manner, whilst also looking to grow the business”.

Lyn Perry, estates director for Trust Inns said: “As a company, Trust Inns have a long standing relationship with Christie & Co and David Cash introduced this site to us earlier this year, as they were aware we were seeking new acquisitions. 

“The site is ideal for us and fits our criteria for new businesses. David has been very professional and helpful throughout, managing the process through the problematic COVID period to a successful completion. We are confident in his ability to understand our business aims and we are happy to recommend him to potential sellers or buyers.” 

David Cash, associate director at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, said: “The Holly Hill is a great example of a country pub with multiple income streams which have helped it to bounce back brilliantly since reopening after lockdown. 

“We are currently seeing an increased demand from purchasers for hospitality businesses such as this, as many buyers look for an alternative lifestyle, whilst capitalising on the growing popularity for staycations.”