First pub auction of the year

Thursday March the 8^th will see the first dedicated pub auction of the year, with the big pub companies trying to get rid of their least successful pubs. The venue is the Lodge at the Celtic Manor, Newport, where last year the beer was £4.50/500 ml bottle, although at least it was a Welsh beer, Tomos Watkin Cwrw Haf.

NB pubs may be withdrawn prior to the sale so don't look at this as a comprehensive guide.

Full details via the auctioneer, Sidney Phillips and the catalogue is available as a download here (pdf)
Update - a number of the pubs have been withdrawn from the auction due to already being sold - check the Sidney Phillips website or Facebook Group for more details
UPDATE 06.03.12 - according to the auctioneers only 3 pubs now remain in the auction, Ivy Bush, Newport, Cilfynydd, Cilfynydd and the Aberdare Hotel, Mountain Ash.

Salmon Inn, Hampton Park Road, Hereford

GP £325,000 - UPDATE WITHDRAWN FROM SALE -SOLD

Seems to be the gem in this auction, 0.52 acres

The building is Georgian but only became a pub in 1956 when Hereford & Cheltenham Brewery transferred the license from a nearby closed pub. Open-plan bar, restaurant, letting rooms, car park, smaoking solution, etc., this pub seems to have everything going for it.

White Hart, Leonard Stanley, Gloucs - withdrawn from Auction
GP £195,000
Village pub, trade patio/smoking area - seems to have everything going for it.

Aberdare Hotel, Mountain Ash

GP £110,000 (GP £170,000 August 11 auction)

Second time around for this pub which failed to reach its guide price at an auction last year. Attractive frontage, though I'm assured by a recent visitor the pub is 'rough as fuck'.

Bar/lounge and function room as well as an outside area. Seems like a good buy with net sales of £200,000 pa. No mention of a smoking area though.

Tylers Arms, Llangynyd, Maesteg UPDATE 02.03.12. Sold prior to auction

GP £150,000

Set in its own grounds of just over ½ an acre, in a picturesque location in the Llynfi valley. Garden as a smoking solution. Another pub that seems to have everything going for it.

Wheatsheaf, Hay-on-Wye UPDATE 23.02.12 -sold prior to auction

GP £275,000

Dating back to at least 1775, the Wheatsheaf is one of the old pubs of Hay. Restaurant, bar, garden (smoking solution), 5 bed accommodation, this does appear to be another gem of the sale. Then again there is stiff competition with a lot of pubs in Hay.

Cilfynydd Inn, Cilfynydd

GP £130,000 (GP £145,000 in August 11 auction)

Second time for auction for this pub after it failed to meet its reserve last year.

Former (old) Rhymney Brewery and Whitbread pub between Pontypridd and Abercynon. Actually trading successfully, unfortunately the pub co has decided to rid themselves of it, putting the current tenants out of work. Separate bar and restaurant. This pub could actually be a success if free-of-tie – just off the A470 and in a residential area.

Ivy Bush, Clarence Place, Newport

GP £140,000

Former Courage pub that used to shift a lot of beer back in the days when it was owned by a brewery, I'm talking about 15+ 18 gallons of beer a week, just of Courage Best! Okay that was 20 years ago before the smoking ban but the Ivy Bush is unusual in that it has a covered smoking area (the side alleyway) and rear garden. The pub has not stocked real ale in years and footfall has suffered by erratic opening times.

New House, North Cornelly, Kenfig, Bridgend UPDATE 02.03.12. Sold prior to auctionGP £195,000

An Enterprise Inns pub, this pub was in the same family for much of the 20^th Century. Its biggest downside is that it is right next door to the other pub in the village, the Cornelly Arms.

Chainbridge Inn, Usk UPDATE 06.03.12 - sold prior to auction

GP £350,000

Another gem of this sale, the Chainbridge is actually near Kemeys Commander, almost equidistant from Pontypool, Usk and Abergavenny . A riverside pub in an attractive location that seems to have everything going for it. Unfortunately bad management over the past few years resulted in some poor reviews on websites, reviews which were almost straight away joined by glowing reports, which does appear a bit suspicious. Although, as the pub is currently shut, boarded up and up for auction I think the negative reports may have had some credence in them.

Red Lion, 47 Stow Hill, Newport UPDATE 05.03.12 -Withdrawn from sale as current tenant has signed a new 5 year contract with Punch

GP £165,000, currently on the market for £175,000, reduced by £20,000 from when first put on the market late last year.

Currently run by the town drunk, who has made threats to stab me whenever I criticise his pub, the Red Lion has seen better days. Thanks Chris for giving the idiot landlord Brian my phone number! Previously a Welsh Brewers/Marr Taverns/Ushers/Punch pub.

Kavanaghs, Llanelli UPDATE 23.02.12 - Withdrawn from auction

GP £160,000

'Circuit bar and live music venue...open-plan'. Sounds like a delightful venue! In the auction picture it looks like the bar is next door to another pub.

Mitre Inn, Canton, Cardiff UPDATE 23.02.12 -sold prior to auction

GP £130,000 (GP £175,000 in August 11 auction)

Second time at auction for this Brains property which failed to reach its reserve last year. Good location, surrounded by housing, this small pub is let down by not having a smoking area apart from the street. A residential conversion could be on the cards, but lack of parking may prevent planning permission.

Rooms, Georgetown, Merthyr Tydfil - withdrawn from auction

GP £135,000

Described as 'an empty shell' and 'would suit development subject to planning permission'. Just one of the many derelict properties in Merthyr.

York Cafe Bar, Bridgend

GP £350,000 UPDATE WITHDRAWN FROM SALE -SOLD

Once known as the York Hotel, this large town-centre building stopped being a hotel some years ago and has been a nightclub ever since. No parking at the York in this pedestrianised town centre which means its future as a hotel doubtful and the town-centre of Bridgend, in fact this whole area already has a profusion of nightclubs. When I went past it last year, delightful posters on the building announced that all bottles were £1.50 on Fridays. Surrounded on 3 sides by streets and the other side by the rest of the terrace, there is no apparent smoking solution apart from the street. The rest of the street appears to be empty/derelict as well/

Another Auction

There is another auction on Thursday 16^th February at the Park Inn, Cardiff, full details at Paul Fosh, not a specialised pub auction as above but a few interesting properties at this mainly residential/commercial sale:

TJ's, 14, 16, 18 Clarence Place, Newport

GP £175,000, 1^st sale £242,000 (fell through), withdrawn from sale before 2^nd sale last November, now for sale again.

Third time up for auction for this venue since John Sicolo died.

Mount Pleasant Inn, Trecynon, Aberdare

GP £45,000+

Extensive three story former pub, conversion to flats looks likely, subject to planning.

The Workingmen's Club, Heol Y Felin, Severn Sisters, Neath

GP £28,000

Another development opportunity.

Paul Fosh Auction Catalogue is available as a download here (pdf)