Historic inn and wedding venue, the St Quintin Arms, has new landlords
The St Quintin Arms, in the historic village of Harpham, East Yorkshire, has been taken over by new entrants to the market, Gary Townend and Tracy Priestley, who have acquired the leasehold interest with funding secured by specialist commercial broker Christie Finance, in a deal brokered by property adviser Christie & Co.
Renowned, award winning pub, The St Quintin Arms, is steeped in history and dates back to the 14th century, with the freehold of the property owned by the prominent St Quintin family since the 1300’s. It’s 800 year history is not the only draw to both locals and visitors to the area; it has a 5 star TripAdvisor rating, is ranked 2nd in the area for Bed & Breakfast, and has succeeding in attaining the coveted Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence.
Sitting within 1 acre of land also means the pub is able to offer itself as a wedding/events venue, utilising the external space with the inclusion of a marquee, a side of the business the new owners are keen to develop, with exciting potential for glamping on site. The large bar and dining area have all been recently refurbished to a high standard, as have the four en-suite letting rooms.
Gary and Tracy have long dreamed of owning a country inn and having acquired a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry, felt now was the right time to realise that dream. Tracy has had a career in catering and management, whilst Gary has spent time as a sous-chef and general manager, among other various roles both in the UK and in the Spanish hospitality industry.
Utilising their knowledge, they look forward to developing on the ongoing success of The St Quintin Arms, and plan to introduce brunches, afternoon teas and build upon the excellent reputation of the establishment.
Gary and Tracy comments, “We were impressed with the service we received. Matthew was always professional, helpful and only a phone call away. Matthew made the process easy by taking the time to meet with us to understand what we felt was most important from a finance perspective.”
Matthew Gudgeon, Finance Consultant who worked on the deal comments “It has been a pleasure working with Gary and Tracy on their purchase of St Quintin Arms. They have a fantastic outlook and will be superb hosts to the drinkers, diners and residential guests for years to come. I am pleased to have helped them with the purchase and wish them all the best for the future.”
Matthew Hendry, the Christie & Co agent who sold the property comments “The sale of St Quintin Arms demonstrates once again the demand for pubs with rooms, whether freehold or leasehold. The pub was under offer and sold very quickly, I wish Gary and Tracy the best moving forward, and I am sure they will be very happy with their new lifestyle.”
