Family take over Herefordshire freehouse

September 27, 2007: The Royal Arms, a 17th century village freehouse overlooking the Malvern Hills in the picturesque Herefordshire village of Llangrove, has been sold to a Gloucestershire family as their first venture into the licensed trade.

The sale was handled by the Bristol office of Christie + Co, while their associate company, the independent mortgage broker Christie Finance, secured the funding package.

The Royal Arms is the only pub in Llangrove, which lies one and a half miles off the A40 at Whitchurch, six miles from Monmouth and seven miles from Ross-on-Wye.

Originally a blacksmith’s shop and later a beer house, the pub was known as the Smith’s Arms until 1888 when it became the Royal Arms in honour of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. The business is very much a hub of the local community and is well placed to attract holidaymakers visiting this beautiful area between the Black Mountains and the Wye Valley.

The attractive detached property, with exposed stone walls, ceiling beams and open fireplaces, briefly comprises public and lounge bars, two-bedroom owner’s accommodation, a trade car park and a pub garden with a 20-cover trade terrace.

Nicholas Calfe, director of Christie + CO, said: “We have sold the freehold interest in the Royal Arms on behalf of Peter and Thelma Saunders, who purchased the business through us in February 2002. They are now retiring from the licensed trade and intend to move back to their roots in South Wales to be closer to family and grandchildren. Within a couple of days of receiving instructions we had sold it to a family who were the first people to view it.”

The new owners of the Royal Arms are Philip and Rosemary Bleatham, and their daughters Ellena and Victoria Bleatham. This is their first freehouse and they will run it as a family concern. Ellena was previously working in television as a freelance graphics and props designer. Victoria was teaching in the United States and Philip and Rosemary were foster carers.

Evan Morgan, of Christie Finance, said: “I have no doubt the Bleatham family will be hugely successful with this venture. We secured a great finance package for them and by working closely with Christie + CO got the deal through very quickly.”

The pub was sold for an undisclosed figure, from an asking price of £385,000 freehold.