11/20/2018 | Hotel Mortgages

Mother and son team purchase their first pub in the Cotswolds

Mother and son, Susan Adams and Graham Healy, have recently purchased the freehold of The Royal Oak pub near Cheltenham, with funding successfully secured by specialist commercial finance broker, Christie Finance.



The Royal Oak is a three-storey Grade II former coaching inn situated in the rural village of Andoversford, currently trading as a 50/50 wet and dry led pub. The current trading area caters for up to 75 people alongside a large outside terrace area offering additional space. The property has been fully refurbished by the current owners and maintains an excellent level of trade.

The Royal Oak offers a picturesque setting for those exploring the area, which is a favourite destination for visitors and holidaymakers for its scenic sights and country pursuits. Previous owner, Mr Roger Brown, bought the pub in 2015 and decided to sell The Royal Oak to focus on other business interests but will still be staying local to the area.

Susan has worked in the hospitality trade throughout her career with a brief venture into the care sector. Her current role sees her running a private members club in London. Here she has full responsibility for the running the establishment, including the management of staff, stock control and organisation of private functions. She also sold a café in 2007 which she bought as a start-up before converting into a profitable business.

Graham has also worked in the hospitality sector for over 16 years working behind the bar and managing several establishments. He currently works as a general manager for the Fox and Hound pub in Oxfordshire where he is responsible for all aspects of running the business.

Susan and Graham have appointed a new chef to work at the Royal Oak, a colleague of Graham’s from his time working at the Fox and Hound, and comment on their future plans for the business, “We will look to introduce live music on the weekends and are excited to be promoting local breweries, offering six to eight local ales on tap. On 14th December we will also be holding a big screen race night to raise money for a breast cancer charity and hope to welcome locals and visitors from further afield for a great cause.”

Jimmy Johns, Finance Consultant at Christie Finance worked with Susan and Graham to purchase their first pub. He comments “The Royal Oak is an excellent purchase for my clients. It is a fully refurbished property upholding a great reputation in the local area. Susan and Graham are a highly experienced partnership equipped with the skills required to run a successful hospitality business. I wish them the very best for the future”.

Nicholas Calfe, Director at Christie & Co handled the sale, he comments, “The Royal Oak presented an excellent opportunity for Susan and Graham to further develop the trade in this profitable pub and to continue on building its reputation for good food and to support local ales.

“Freehold pubs in the Cotswold countryside continue to perform well, acting as hubs for the local community and typically are ideally placed for the high numbers of visitors who come to the area.”