March Pub Auction

March Pub Auction

First major pub auction of the year will be on Wednesday 11th March 1430hrs at Puckrup Hall Hotel, near Tewkesbury, Gloucs, GL20 6EL, with 10 pubs going under the hammer. Subject to change, check out the Sidney Phillips website for more details.

Let's have a look at what is going under the hammer:

Cross Keys Hotel, Nantgarw, GP £175,000
Open plan bars and restaurant, two-ensuite letting rooms, three-bedroom owners accommodation, gardens.
Often been passed this pub as it's on the bus route from the Otley Arms to Fagin's so there are some good pubs nearby. Always seemed a bit run-down but you expect that with pub-co pubs. Could do well in the right hands, conversion to housing unlikely as it faces a busy main road.

Royal Head Inn, Llanidloes, Powys GP £160,000
16th-century black and white inn with lounge bar and restaurant, public bar and games room, 3 letting rooms and 4 bedroom flat.
Historic pub which has been let down by Enterprise ownership over the years.

Wain Y Clare, Mamhilad, Torfaen GP £150,000
Main road pub and dining venue, open-plan bar areas, four bedroom owners accommodation, gardens and car park.
Situated on the main Pontypool-Abergavenny road this used to be an extremely busy pub, as the large car park used to be quite full. Been shut and boarded up for a while, another pub-co success story.

Riverside, Brewery Lane, Bridgend GP £225,000
Attractive Gerorgian ph, 0.37 acre, 2 bars, 4 bedroom owners accommodation, large car park
Huge pub, just off the town-centre, again has been run-down over the years.
Was once known as 'The Jolly Brewer' and dates to 1795 and was the family residence of the owner of the nearby brewery, the Stiles, it became a pub in the 1920s and was known as the 'Brewery House' until renamed by owners Courage in the 1970s.
A lot of potential here, despite being in Bridgend, although the nearby cinema was demolished a few years ago so the council might look favourably to demolish this historic pub.

Falcon Inn, Hinstock, Market Drayton, Salop GP £250,000
Village inn with 3 interconnecting trade areas, 6 en-suite letting rooms, separate 2-bed owners cottage, set in 0.47 acres
 Another Enterprise Inns disposal

Red Lion, Aston, Oxon GP £245,000
18th century Cotswold pub, 2 interconnecting bars, 3 bedroomed owners accommodation, village green location
Not a pub I know, or want to know after reading this description from 'The Endless British Pub Crawl' blog.

Bay Horse, High Street, Bromyard GP £245,000
Black & white inn with two characterful trading areas, 5-en suite letting bedrooms
Another one I'm not familiar with but the Trip Advisor reviews aren't that good!

Bulls Head, Brecon GP £185,000
Riverside location, 2-section open bar, 8 bedrooms, development potential, currently closed
Once a popular pub and CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular when it was owned by Marlows who also owned Breconshire Brewery. It did go downhill after Evans Evans Brewery purchased it, no surprise there, and has been closed for a number of years.

Prince of Wales, Portland Street, Cheltenham GP £290,000
Regency town-centre property, 2 bars, 5 bed owners accommodation, trade garden, currently closed
Not a pub I know, then I always get lost n Cheltenham!

Rose & Crown, Goodwick, Fishguard GP £95,000
Two bars in a coastal village with 3 bedroom owners accommodation, beer patio and smoking solution
Next door to the Hope & Anchor pub which also appears to be closed.

March Pub Auction

Next South Wales pub auction will be on Wednesday 6th March at 1430 at the Celtic Manor in Newport.
Full list and updates available from the Sidney Phillips website.
Fwrrwm Ishta, Machen, Guide Price £265,000
Definitely the best pub in the auction, the Fwrrwm Ishta's fortunes have been up and down over the years, only a few years ago this pub gained a well-deserved reputation for its food, helped by the large car park that made it a destination pub. Situated on the main road from Newport to Caerphilly, the 'Sitting Bench' as the name translates has suffered from under investment by owners Enterprise over the years, as the previous tenant blamed the state of the building as one of the reasons for leaving. There was a planning application made last year to convert the building into a school. The nearby Tradesmans Arms went to auction in December last year.
Rhoswenallt Inn, Abernant, Aberdare, GP £165,000
A detached valleys' pub situated far enough outside of Aberdare to be a decent pub. Described on the pub;s website as 'Aberdare's Premier Location', which is an obvious case of hyperbole if ever I have read one! This pub seems to have a lot going for it – trade garden/smoking solution and the nearby former railway track from Hirwaun to Cwmbach that has now been converted into a path for walkers.
General Picton, Nantyffyllon, Maesteg, £100,000
Spacious end-of-terrace locals pub with lounge bar, public bar, restaurant and skittle alley/function room. The only downside is that the smoking solution appears to be the street. Guide price in the December 2012 auction was £125,000.
The Bertram, Adamsdown, Cardiff, GP £30,000 leasehold
Situated on Broadway, a street that has seen the closure of the New Dock Tavern and the Locomotive in recent years, this former Ansells pub has a lot of potential, especially as it has a free of tie lease. Although it is a bit unusual to see a lease go to auction. Garden at rear provides a smoking solution.
Old Coach House, Fishguard, GP £225,000
Town centre High Street location with three section bar and separate dining/function room. Trade garden for a smoking solution, seems to have everything going for it.
Smiths Arms, Rhos, Pontardawe, GP £150,000
Two bars, car park and gardens with a smoking shelter to the side. Seems to be the only pub in the village but then there is a lot of competition in nearby Pontardawe.
Neville Arms, Abbeydore, Herefordshire, GP £250,000
A close run to the best pub in the auction and a pub that I have visited for 20 years, the Neville is situated in the Golden Valley, across the road from the historic abbey. The pub has seen various changes in management over the years, some good, others not so good. This place has a lot of potential in the right ownership with letting rooms and a potential caravan site. Set in its own grounds with a car park, the pub also features a 2 bars and a restaurant.
Lion Inn, Briton Ferry, GP £150,000
Substantial main road property with lounge, restaurant and five double bedrooms. Currently closed, being sold with development potential, subject to planning.
The Pegasus, Pontnewynydd, Pontypool, GP £145,000
Set back from the main road, this is described as 'a community-style village pub', with extensive trading accommodation. Patio and garden provide the smoking solution. A nearby pub, The Horseshoe is also closed at the moment. There is a JDW not too far away in Pontypool.
Goodrich Hotel, Caerphilly, GP £195,000
A large, distinctive edge of town centre pub with two large bars and a function room, large gardens and parking. There are plenty of pubs in the town and with the opening of JDW in 2011 its hardly surprising we are seeing pubs close and be sold.

December Pub Auction

The next local pub auction will be on Wednesday December 5th at 1430 in the Celtic Manor Hotel, Newport. Twelve pubs are up for auction as I write this, this may well change so check the Sidney Phillips website for updates. A couple of cheap ones on this list, with the guide prices starting at £75k – although as these pubs have been in pubco hands for a number of years the buildings will no doubt need a lot spending on them to bring them up to an acceptable standard.

Tredegar Arms, High Street, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, GP £145,000
Large pub on the road into Merthyr, formerly a Rhymney/Whitbread Brewery pub, quite large, car park, lounge, bar, letting rooms. The only let-down is the pub being on the outskirts of Merthyr Tydfil.

Four Bells, St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan, GP £175,000
One of only 2 pubs left in the village, the Four Bells is an ex-Hancocks/Welsh Brewers/Mercury Taverns pub, with a garden, car park and 2 bars. Since the closure of the RAF base at the village the custom has declined somewhat.

General Picton, Nantyfyllon, Maesteg, Mid-Glamorgan, GP £125,000
Large, end-of-terrace locals pub with lounge bar, public bar, restaurant and skittle alley/function room as well as a separate 3-bedroomed house. All that for a relatively low guide price, well it is near Maesteg and it looks like the only smoking solution is the street, not ideal.

Cross Keys, Cefn Hengoed, GP £160,000
A large-detached building with 2 bars and a function room, a trade patio supplies the smoking solution.
Gwyn Arms, Alltwen, Pontardawe, GP £75,000
Former Rhymney/Whitbread pub, 3-section open-plan bar. Surprisingly large, the building stretches back more than is apparent from looking at the frontage. Patio and garden serves as smoking solutions.
New Inn, Mountain Ash, GP £75,000
Large, open-plan pub with a trade garden. Quite a lot of building for this very low guide price.

Tradesmans Arms, Machen, Caerphilly, GP £165,000
Pub situated on the main road through Machen – there is a lot of competition locally, although the Ffwrwm Ishta was shut the last time I went past it. Described as 'Sought after residential area' so change of use may be on the cards here.

Royal Hotel, Treharris, GP £125,000
A substantial Victorian hotel dating from 1895 with 2 bars, snooker room and 9 bedrooms. Being sold as 'Development possibilities'.

Castell Y Bwch, Henllys, Cwmbran, GP £220,000
Situated in a rural location between Newport and Cwmbran, this pub once had a good reputation for food. A large plot, 0.73 acre so this may attract residential conversion.
Coity Castle, Bridgend, GP £160,000
Situated just off the town centre, near to the railway station. Looks like the only smoking solution is the street so a conversion to restaurant maybe on the cards.

Oddfellows Arms, Maindee, Newport GP £125,000
Dating back to 1854, this detached pub is set in the residential area of Maindee. Outside smoking area at the rear, two bars, the one thing letting this pub down is that there is a Chaverspoon's in the area. Other nearby pubs – the Star, the Globe, the Royal Albert are also closed at the moment.

Fusion, 1 Station Road, Gloucester GP £195,000
Formerly the Prince Albert pub, this street-corner local near the railway station looks like it has seen better days. Smoking area appears to be the street only.

July Pub Auction

Another pub auction coming up at the Celtic Manor on Tuesday 10th July. In the last auction earlier this year most of the pubs were sold before the auction so it will be interesting to see what happens at this one.
Full details are on the Sidney Phillips website. NB Information below may be out-of-date in the run up to the auction so check their site not this one! Last update 09.07.12
Auction catalogues can be downloaded from the Sidney Phillips site here (pdf)

Buck, Abersychan, Pontypool, Torfaen, GP £85,000
Main, bar, games room and a trade garden, this pub seems to have everything going for it. On a main road as well. There is a lot of local competition from nearby pubs though.

Golden Lion, Aberkenfig, Bridgend, GP £185,000
Public bar, lounge, function room, trade patio for the smoking solution, 7-bed accommodation, another pub that seems to have everything going for it.

Pant Cad Ifor, Pant, Merthyr Tydfil, GP £195,000
Bar area and restaurant, car park, outside area for smokers. Another gem of this sale, don't be put off by the Merthyr address, this pub has had a reputation for good food and beer in the past. In fact its in an almost rural location with the remains of Morlais castle nearby.

White Hart, Bedwas, Caerphilly, GP £175,000
Punch Taverns
Open plan but with trade gardens, this is an attractive looking stone-built pub. The pub was forced to close earlier this year by a court order because of disorder at the premises which included underage drinkers using the beer garden and noise. Or 'a popular community local' as its often described as.

Railway Tavern, Tonna, Neath, GP £125,000
Substantial pub with open-plan bar with car park and large garden.

Four Bells, St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan GP £225,000
Two bars and a lounge/restaurant, car parking and large gardens. One of only two pubs in the village, this place has potential, although with the downsizing of RAF St Athan there may be an effect on trade. Still there is potential there.

New Inn, Mardy, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, GP £150,000
Two bars, roadside location, car park, outdoor drinking/smoking area. Another pub with a lot of potential – its situated on the outskirts of Abergavenny and there are plans to build another 300 houses nearby. Seem to remember it has been opening on restricted hours for the last few years – its been closed the last few times I've been past it anyway.

Aberdare Hotel, Mountain Ash, GP £80,000
Third time in in a year this pub has been to auction. Guide price for this pub was £170,000 in the August '11 auction and £110,000 in the March '12 one. Bar/lounge and function room as well as an outside area. Net sales of what where claimed to be £200kpa have been knocked down to £160kpa. An attractive frontage to the pub, though the pub was described to me by one visitor as being 'rough as fuck'.

Dylans, Cwmavon, Port Talbot, GP £110,000
Lounge bar/restaurant, function room, family room, trade garden. Seems to have everything going from it, apart from the fact it looks like it was built as a WWII bunker.

New Inn, Mountain Ash, GP £95,000
Currently closed. Open-plan bar, kitchen, trade garden. Former Whitbread pub. Mountain Ash could really do with a decent pub.

Dunraven, Bryncethin, Ogmore Vale, GP £125,000
Public bar, games room, function room, lounge/restaurant, car park and gardens. Another pub that seems to have everything going for it.

Tredegar Arms Hotel, High Street, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, GP £165,000
Situated on the main road, the Tredegar Arms features a bar and restaurant as well as  8 en-suite letting rooms and a car park. Always found the place to be a quiet in recent years.

Gwyn Arms, Alltwen, Pontardawe, GP £95,000
Former Rhymney/Whitbread Brewery pub, the pub features a three-section open-plan bar area and a beer patio and garden.

Clydach Vale Workingmens Club, Tonypandy, GP £85,000
0.56 of an acre, the club is currently closed so it looks like a development opportunity here.

Hendre, Trowbridge, Cardiff, GP £235,000
SA Brain
Built around 1971 and looking like it, this estate pub features a lounge, public bars, skittle alley and is being advertised as with 'development potential'.

Imperial Hotel, Plasmarl, Swansea, GP £165,000
Public bar, lounge bar and function room, being advertised with 'development potential'. Looks like there is no smoking solution apart from the street.

Kavanaghs, Llanelli, GP £165,000
GP £160,000 in March '12 auction, was withdrawn from the sale, but it looks as if that fell through and its up for auction again – with an increase in the guide price. 'Circuit bar and live music venue...open-plan. Sounds like a delightful venue!

Marine Hotel, Barry Island, GP £255,000
SA Brain
Once part of a much larger hotel, this 0.35 of an acre site is being advertised as having 'development potential'.

Sold Prior to Auction:


Star Inn, Wick, Vale of Glamorgan, GP £225,000 UPDATE 09.07.12 Sold prior to auction
Lounge, public bar, trade garden and car parking. An ex-Welsh brewers house, the pub has seen better days but could reopen under new ownership. One of the this pubs in this auction with a lot of potential.

Bank, Station Street, Port Talbot, GP £125,000 SOLD PRIOR TO AUCTION 03.07.12

Town centre circuit pub, open-plan bar areas, extensive accommodation. Currently closed. Only smoking area appears to be the street. Looks like a residential conversation to flats may be on the cards here
Maesycwmmer Inn, Hengoed, GP £125,000 UPDATE 09.07.12 Sold prior to auctionLarge, two-bar roadside pub with car park and outdoor areas. Being sold as 'prominently located...suit development'


Dunraven Arms Hotel, Bridgend GP £295,000
Very large Victorian hotel near the train station. Interesting to see who has bought this and what will happen to it?

Fox & Hounds, Blackmill, Bridgend GP £175,000

Cilfynydd Inn, Cilfynydd, Pontypridd GP £95,000
GP £145,000 in August '11,  £130,000 in March '12

Away from the auction circuit I notice that Le Pub in Newport is up for sale. One of the few live music venues left in the City after the closure of TJ's, Le Pub has suffered due to it being an upstairs bar with no smoking access apart from the street.