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NB pubs may be withdrawn prior to the sale so don't look at this as a comprehensive guide.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Update - a number of the pubs have been withdrawn from the auction due to already being sold - check the Sidney Phillips website or Facebook Group for more details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GP £325,000 - UPDATE WITHDRAWN FROM SALE -SOLD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White Hart, Leonard Stanley, Gloucs - withdrawn from Auction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)

Another pub auction

Wednesday 24^th August will see another pub auction at the Celtic Manor, conducted by Sidney Phillips. At the moment the list of those pubs up for auction is below, catalogue can be downloaded from Sidney Phillips site here (pdf).

Once again we see more lots of pubs being sold off by pub companies and even a few by SA Brain.

NB pubs may be withdrawn prior to the sale so don't look at this as a comprehensive guide. 

Brittania, Frogmore Street, Abergavenny (Guide price £175,000)

The earliest records of this Grade II Listed pub date back to 1741 when it was the Cock & Horse, the name later changed to the Three Kings and to the Brittania in 1821. Between 1983 and 1997 it was known as the Welsh Guardsman. Its always been a bit of a dark and dingy pub, I think I have only ever drank in there a couple of times. It's in a difficult place with the competing Auberge (former Herefordshire House) and the Coliseum (JD Wetherspoons) both nearby. More likely to be turned into retail premises than continue as pub as auction catalogue describes it as 'a development opportunity'. Rear garden used as a smoking solution.

Cilfynydd Inn, Cilfynydd, Pontypridd (GP £145,000)

Former 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.

Aberdare Hotel, Mountain Ash (GP £170,000)

Quite a spectatcular frontage to this pub, well for a nineteenth-century South Wales pub anyway. Bar/lounge and function room as well as an outside area. Seems like a good buy with net sales of £200,00 pa

Avondale Social Club, Mountain Ash (GP £50,000)

Large 1960/70s building 'in need of investment' according to the catalogue which usually means its in a right old state. Bulldozers on standby for a housing redevelopment I think!

Bevans Arms, Morriston, Swansea (GP £80,000)

S & N PubCo sell off. Large brewers Tudor pub, currently closed. Two bars plus a function room but no mention of a smoking solution in the catalogue.

King William IV, Barry (GP £145,000)

One of the smaller pubs of Barry but still with public bar, lounge, games room and function room together with gardens for a smoking solution. Set in a residential area.

The local community are trying to get enough money together to purchase this pub.

Maesllwch Arms Hotel, Glasbury-on-Wye, Herefordshire (GP £325,000)

Described as 'a character period hotel' according to reviews on Beer in the Evening this pub took a steep nosedive after a succession of tenants attempted to run this Enterprise Inns pub. 'Available for a variety of uses' according to the catalogue, which does cast doubt on its future as a pub.

Mile End Inn, Glendross, Swansea (GP£160,000)

Three-storey building in .48 of an acre with gardens and car parking. Conversion to residential flats is a possibility with this pub.

New Inn, Clydach, Swansea (GP £195,000)

Currently closed but with a main bar, games room, restaurant and gardens. Was featured in the 2011 edition of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Next to a RSPB nature reserve, this pub seems to be the gem in this sale.

Navigation, Abercynon, Mountain Ash (£185,000)

Three-storey historic building set in 2 acres. Trevithick's first ever steam locomotive ran from Penydarren to the canal terminus just outside the pub in 1804. Currently closed.

Oyster Catcher, Laleston, Bridgend (£350,000)

Currently closed, the Oyster Catcher is a Grade II listed building reputed to date from the 1500s, with 18^th Century additions. The catalogue mentions it 'will interest property developers'

Cardiff Arms, Splott, Cardiff (GP £225,000)

Former Brains pub, this three-storey corner building looks like a prime candidate for conversion to flats. Built in 1896. The owners of the nearby Grosvenor Hotel were granted permission to demolish their pub and replace it with a block of flats, perhaps a similar fate awaits the Cardiff Arms?

Prince of Wales, Ton Pentre, Treorchy (GP £100,000)

Former Rhymney/Whitbread pub with public bar and lounge. Another change of use?

Potters, Brynithel, Abertillery (GP £100,000)

Being touted as 'possible conversion to restaurant use'.

Sawyers Arms, Maesteg (GP £165,000)

Currently closed, this large two-storey pub is in the centre of the town and was formerly owned by Brains.

Wingfield, Llanbradach, Caerphilly (GP £165,000)

Large pub which in the past has had a good reputation for food.

White Horse, Llanelli (GP £165,000)

Situated on the outskirts of the town, this is another former Brains pub and was once owned by Buckley's Brewery.

Royal Oak, Ynyswen, Treherbert (GP £120,000)

Another closed pub with 2 large bar areas and a smoking solution to the rear.

Forge Hammer, Pontnewynydd, Torfaen (GP £110,000)

Currently closed, a detached building with bar, lounge and restaurant. Surprisingly low guide price for a building like this.

Pegasus, Pontnewynydd, Torfaen (GP £145,000)

'Suit development subject to planning' according to the catalogue.

Windsor Castle, Newport (£185,000)

A former Hancocks/Welsh Brewers pub in the centre of the city. Very handy for the bus station and used to serve a decent pint of Bass. A bit of an odd building as it has entrances on both Dock Street and Skinner Street despite not being on a street corner. Still under £200k for a City-centre freehouse, the only thing that lets this pub down is the smoking solution being the street and the structural problems causing the cracks in the walls.

Catalogue description is fun, especially from anyone who knows Newport:

'Busy seaside location. Traditional public house sea views'

Mitre, Canton, Cardiff (GP £175,000)

Another former Brains pub, a street-corner local in a densely populated part of the City – a residential conversion could be on the cards, but lack of parking may prevent planning permission.

One pub has so far been withdrawn from the sale due to being sold:

Golden Age, Broadway, Pontypridd

Used to be called the Railway and was a former Rhymney/Whitbread pub

Quite a comprehensive list, the previous auction at the Celtic Manor generated a lot of interest, though a lot of pubs failed to meet their reserve and were sold after the auction.

South Wales Pub Auction - update

I realise the auction happened a few weeks ago but I have been waiting for some post-auction news before updating and, yes, I did forget about it and left the post gathering the equivalent of dust on the pc.

Previous post regarding the auction was here 

Thirty-one pubs were originally put up for auction, although 18 were sold beforehand, including the Cambrian in Blaenavon and the Engineers, Newport. Others sold before auction were:

Black Prince, Ynysddu

Bowens Arms, Swansea

Copperhouse, Port Talbot

Eagle, Taunton

Full Moon, Trycynon, Aberdare

Maltsters, Cwmbwrla, Swansea

New Beethoven, Maesteg

Puddlers Arms, Rhymney

Railway, Llangynydd

Smith's Arms, Pengam, Blackwood

Star, Llanfihangel Tor-y-Mynydd, Llansoy, Monmouthshire

Star, Mamhilad, Pontypool

Tair Bull, Libanus, Brecon

Ty-yn-y-Pwll Inn, Trethomas

Waterlooo, Oakfield, Cwmbran

Cogan, Penarth

A very crowded auction room at the Celtic Manor Hotel in Ringland, Newport surprisingly saw very few pubs realise their guide price or even meet their reserve, which caused extra work for the auctioneers after the auction. As the auctioneer had pointed out – the pubs on sale today were there to be sold so if the reserve price was not reached they would accept offers afterwards. The auction was largely made up of 'fire sale' properties owned by failing pub companies such as Admiral and Enterprise – many of these pubs had suffered closure in recent years as well as lack of investment in the buildings – Admiral Taverns had even put out a press release a couple of years ago that one of the auction properties had reopened after a period of closure after a £4000 refurbishment! With that amount of money being spent on their pubs it's hardly surprising they are dying on their feet.

Pubs where the reserve was not met:

Admiral, Cadoxton, Barry

Forest Hotel, Treforest

Hornblower, Newport - believed to be sold post-auction

Red Cow, Ystalyfera - back on the market OIRO £70,0000

Rising Sun, Fochriw - back on the market OIRO £70,000

Royal Hotel, Trealaw - back on the market OIRO £70,000

Ruperra, New Tredegar - back on the market OIRO £70,000

Wattstown, Porth - back on the market OIRO £70,000

The Red Cow, Royal Hotel and the Wattstown are all featured in the CAMRA book, Real Heritage Pubs of Wales, for their relatively unspoilt interiors.

Pubs that sold:

Carpenters Arms, Newport. Bought for £160,000 (Guide price £225,000) by the owner of the High Street shitehouse and chav depository, the Greyhound, it is my understanding that current tenants JW Bassett have signed a new 5 year lease with the new owner. Good for Newport as it will be the only outlet for Felinfoel beers in the City.

Colliers, Neath. Sold for £100,000 (GP £130,000)

De Winton, Tonypandy, went for £90,000 (GP £70,000). This could be a good pub once again if the owners want it to be – good main road location, smoking solution, car park etc.

Fox & Hounds, Llanharry, £185,000 (GP£195,000) some fierce bidding for this one especially from a West Wales brewer who seems to have made a phoenix-like return after liquidating his company last year. The auctioneer described him as “a canny lad” though most people refer to him using a lot more expletives.

Well lots of bargains to be had in that auction and even now, a pub for £70,000? You can't even buy a house for that!

South Wales Pub Auction

The beginning of March will see the first big pub auction of the year as failing pub companies Admiral and Enterprise attempt to dispose of some of their pubs. The freehold of 29 pubs will be sold at auction at the Celtic Manor, Newport, by Sidney Phillips on Wednesday 2^nd March.

Many of these pubs have suffered from lack of investment over the years from the pub companies and some have suffered periods of closure.

 Having checked the Sidney Phillips auction site today I see a number of the pubs in the original auction have been withdrawn from sale or had their guide price reduced.

A few of the pubs are known to me so lets have a look at what is up for auction:

Hornblower, 126 Commercial Street, Newport (pictured right, behind the fire engine!)

A famous bikers pub that has had problems with alcoholic staff and gang warfare in the past as well as being shut for months on end. The new tenants have improved the place by cleaning it, always a good start! The location of the pub is not helped by the fact that it is between two derelict buildings and that the cellar is prone to flooding due to the fact that it is below the main sewer!  

Built in 1872 as the Ram Inn, it was later named the Exchange before becoming the 'Blower. Previous owners have been Lloyds & Yorath Brewery, Ansells Brewery, Punch Taverns and Admiral Taverns. The pub used to be a regular in the Good Beer Guide. Smoking solution – the street.

Guide Price £160,000 - Now reduced to £130,000!

Talisman, 59 Commercial Street, Newport. Dating from at least 1860 when it was the Isca Brewery Tavern, this pub was owned by Phillips Brewery and then Courage. In latter years the pub has been a bit of dump, popular with the section of society who are too lazy to climb nearby Hill Street to the Salvation Army building. Smoking solution – the street.

Guide Price £195,000

Engineers Arms, 3 Albert Terrace, Baneswell, Newport. A corner pub in a residential area of the City, the Engineers has suffered periods of closure over the last few years. Recent tenants have even had problems getting regular beer deliveries as current owners Admiral Taverns have been experiencing credit problems with breweries. I have visited a couple of times in the last few years but the erratic availability of beer has prevented the Engineers from becoming a regular stopping point. The Engineers dates from at least 1872 and was a freehouse until 1950 when Hancock's Brewery bought it, later it went to Welsh Brewers, Punch Taverns then Admiral Taverns. The Engineers features in the CAMRA publication 'Real Heritage Pubs of Wales'.

As this is a residential area there is a chance that any prospective purchaser would prefer a flat/houses conversion to this corner pub. Smoking solution – the street.

Guide Price £185,000

Carpenter's Arms, High Street. Currently owned by Enterprise but leased to JW Bassett pub company this pub had been shut for a few years until it reopened last year. Not surprisingly JW Bassett have turned around a failing pub into a successful venue. Smoking solution – the street.

Guide Price £225,000

Red Cow, Ystalyfera, Swansea. Also featured in the CAMRA publication 'Real Heritage Pubs of Wales', Ystalyfera is a dead-end town at the top of the Tawe Valley, populated by a closed-knit gene pool that makes the residents of Royston Veasey seem normal. Surprisingly there are quite a few other pubs and clubs in this town so competition is fierce.

Guide Price £85,000

Star Inn, Llanfihangel-Tor-Y-Mynydd, Llansoy, Monmouthshire.

A country pub set in rural Monmouthshire, this pub has extensive grounds and the pub company that purchased it only a few years ago paid well over a million for it. Since then it has experienced periods of closure and resulting loss of trade. A pity as when it was family-owned it was successful with a popular restaurant area.

Guide Price £280,000

Ty-Yn-Y-Pwll Inn, Trethomas, Mid-Glamorgan. Situated on the busy Newport-Caerphilly road this two-bar pub has a car park and should be a success. Unfortunately the pub company that has been running it has changed the lagers and beers from the ones that customers had been drinking for years so they went elsewhere. Last time I went past on a Saturday afternoon just before Christmas the pub was closed. Has a garden so more of a smoking solution than the pubs above.

Guide Price £210,000

Cambrian Inn, Blaenavon 

About 15 years this was a cracking family-run locals pub with varied real ales, changes in ownership appear to have pushed it to a Guide Price of £65,000

Well that's it for the pubs I know well, others in the auction include :

Rising Sun, Fochriw (currently closed) GP £75,000

Forest Hotel, Pontypridd (currently closed) GP £140,000

Colliers Inn, Skewen, (currently closed) GP £130,000

Tylerstown Conservative Club (currently closed) GP £87,500

Full Moon, Trecynon, Aberdare (currently closed) GP £95,000

Royal Hotel, Trelaw, Tonypandy (currently closed) GP £150,000

New Beethoven, Maestaeg (currently closed) £190,000

De Winton, Tonypandy, GP £80,000

Wattstown Hotel, Wattstown, Porth, £110,000

Ruperra, New Tredegar, GP £110,000

Copper House, Cwmavon, Port Talbot GP £115,000

Railway Inn, Llangynydd, Maesteg GP £120,000

Puddlers Arms, Rhymney, GP £130,000 Now reduced £100,000!

Smiths Arms, Pengam, Blackwood, GP £130,000

Bowen Arms, Swansea, GP £140,000

Black Prince, Ynysddu GP £175,000

Prince of Wales, Treorchy GP £175,000

Admiral, Cadoxton, Barry, GP £175,000

Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran GP ££225,000

Waterloo Inn, Oakfield, Cwmbran, GP £190,000

Star Inn, Mamhilad, Pontypool GP £180,000

Fox & Hounds, Llanharry, Pontyclun, GP £195,000

Fagins, Thomastown, Rhondda, GP £225,000

Tair Bull, Libanus, Brecon GP £170,00

Cogan Hotel, Penarth GP £225,000 Now reduced £200,000

Sidney Phillips pub auction

1430 Wednesday 2^nd  March 2011, Celtic Manor, Ringland, Newport, NP18 1HQ