Sale of popular Hampshire village inn completes
Specialist business property advisor, Christie & Co has completed on the sale of The Plough Inn, a popular village pub located in the countryside village of Longparish in Hampshire. The pub was bought by the local parish council - with the backing of the community group, Plough Ahead.
The Plough Inn is a large, character three-storey property with function rooms, a large beer garden, owners’ accommodation and three further bedrooms. The pub is situated in the small, picturesque Hampshire village of Longparish, approximately one mile north of the A303 West country trunk road and five miles east of Andover. The village is a popular destination for fishermen, cyclists and walkers alike and is only a short distance from the Bombay Sapphire Distillery, The Whitchurch Silk Mill and the Hawk Conservancy.
The pub has been a valued asset at the heart of the Longparish village community and has been serving passing travellers since 1721. Prior to closing its doors in December 2015, it was a well-known and successful destination pub, with a reputation for high quality, locally produced, food. In its recent heyday, the pub was owned by Great British Menu chef, James Durrant and won many accolades, including UK Pub of the Year Award by the Good Food Guide and a BIB Gourmand rating two years running. It was also awarded two AA rosettes and has been included in the 2014 Michelin Guide.
The business has been purchased by the local parish council and will be leased to the local community group, Plough Ahead, which was formed by a group of Longparish residents in 2018 to raise funds to buy and restore the inn, returning it to the local community. Funds to refurbish and run the pub have been raised by selling shares to local residents and supporters further afield.
Andy Jolliffe, Chair of the Plough Ahead group comments, “We are so pleased to have the opportunity to reclaim our beautiful pub and are really looking forward to bringing it back to life for the benefit of the whole village, as both a pub and community hub. Our plan now is to refurbish it and be ready to reopen by the end of June. Ultimately, we want to create a fantastic rural pub with craft beers and local spirits, along with a great quality restaurant that serves excellent pub food, with two or three smart, comfortable bedrooms for overnight guests, plus create new community facilities alongside. It will be a challenge, but one that we will all relish.”
Richard Wood, Associate Director at Christie & Co, handled the sale and adds, “I am delighted to have helped facilitate this sale, ensuring the reopening of the pub and that it continues to the serve many generations to come in both the village and surrounding areas. I have no doubt that the community group will make the pub a tremendous success.”
For further information on this press release, contact:
Bronte Hughes, Corporate Communications Executive
P: 07721 420 656 or E: bronte.hughes@christie.com
Contact the agent:
Richard Wood, Business Agent
P: +44 1962 833 801
E: richard.wood@christie.com
