Charnwood buys historic Herefordshire inn

Shropshire-based Charnwood Pub Company has bought the freehold on Chequers Inn, the historic Herefordshire real-ale pub, from Glynn and Kate Hopkin.

Charnwood is an independent managed pub operator with venues in the Midlands, Cheshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire.

The Grade II-listed black-and-white timbered building, which dates back to 1600, is in Etnam Street in the market town of Leominster.

The award-winning real-ale pub was voted Pub of the Year 2007 and Overall Herefordshire Pub of the Year 2007 by the Herefordshire branch of CAMRA. It offers a 30-seat front bar, a 20-seat lounge bar and a 22-seating dining area and can seat another 50 customers across its two restaurant areas. The outside trade patio can accommodate a further 60 guests.

Other facilities include three-bedroom owners' accommodation, a private garden, and a car park

The Bristol office of Christie + Co worked in tandem with Matthew Phillips Surveyors to help Charnwood secure the freehold off a guide price of £800,000.

By Angela Frewin