11/7/2019

Campsite located next to World and English Heritage site, Hadrian's Wall, is purchased by experienced hospitality operators

Specialist commercial finance broker, Christie Finance, has secured funding for Stephen and Tracy Miller in order to purchase the freehold of Hadrian’s Wall Campsite, situated a short walk from part of the English Heritage site of Hadrian’s Wall.

Located close to the hamlet of Melkridge and village of Haltwhistle in Northumberland, Hadrian’s Wall Campsite benefits hugely from its proximity to the Heritage site, being a prime tourist destination for both its historical significance as well as the beautiful surrounding countryside. The campsite is made up of approximately four acres of land which includes a detached four-bedroom house with a private garden, an amenities block comprising of a small shop, café, bunkhouse and shower facilities. Hadrian’s Wall Campsite is a successful holiday destination, having been trading under the same ownership for 25 years.

New owners Stephen and Tracy Miller are not unfamiliar to commercial ventures, having purchased and overhauled the Nags Head Inn in Abercych, Pembrokeshire. They were able to turn what was a fading business around by revamping the kitchen and guest rooms, hiring an exceptional chef and creating a destination venue for food lovers near and afar.

Stephen and Tracy have a passion for the hospitality trade, and plan to build on the existing reputation of the campsite which already enjoys fantastic ratings and high repeat trade. The husband and wife team are looking forward to being extremely hands on, with the hope of erecting glamping pods and lodges to allow for all year-round trade and utilisation of the wonderful space that they have. Coincidentally, with the increase in UK holiday destinations and breaks, this is perfect timing for the Miller’s acquisition and should see the business thrive in the coming years.

Stephen Miller comments, “Having sold our country inn in Pembrokeshire during 2018 using Christie & Co, Christie Finance were a natural choice for us when we needed to arrange a commercial mortgage to buy our next business. We were attracted to another leisure business but something more seasonal and where we could get some time off! Once we viewed Hadrian's Wall Campsite in early 2019 we just knew it was the perfect choice for us. Despite having a successful business relationship with a high street bank, unfortunately they felt unable to support us in our new venture. Jimmy John's at Christie Finance looked over the information and quickly determined that he would be able to develop a proposal that would be attractive to the banks. This was indeed the case and we ended up with a very competitive lending offer. Put simply, we would not be the proud new owners of the business without the support of Jimmy and Christie Finance.”

Jimmy Johns, who handled the deal, comments, “It was great to work with Mr and Mrs Miller to support them in acquiring their new adventure. With their previous hospitality experience, we were able to drive a highly competitive process, providing them with several different funding options to consider. I wish them all the best in the future”.