Church Inn, Matlock

The Church Inn is located in the village of Darley Dale 4 miles from Matlock in the Derbyshire peak District. The Church is a quintessentially English stone-built country pub. and as its name suggests, it is opposite the church and surrounded by cottage style housing to the rear and open countryside to the front. It is near to several tourist camp sites and the Derbyshire steam railway line. This is most definitely a country pub, with locals, muddy boots, cask ales and lots of dogs.

Pub Layout

As you enter the pub it has a central bar serving two separate rooms, a lounge snug with comfy seating, hard wood tables and an open fire creating a warm welcoming. The second room is larger and more open plan with harder stone floor and wooden seating. A darts oche and TV give this more of a bar feel and room for vertical drinking. This room spreads into an area housing two sofas, low tables and a log burning stove. To the rear the pub has a good drinking yard with a smoking solution, a good sized enclosed beer garden and several outbuildings. To the front of the property just across the lane is a  really large area partly tarmacked for parking and a grassed area with an abundance of picnic tables for customers use. This backs onto the steam railway line and bridal path.

The pub currently enjoys an excellent local trade as it has a leading choice and quality cask ale offer. The current licensee is local and plays his part in the local rural community which is vital to its popularity. The clientele are varied in social demographic and age with a broad range of customers that makes the pub special. It is not all horse riders and ale drinkers, with regular live bands and events put on outside in the summer, world lagers, wines and Gins are sold a plenty. Major sporting events are shown and well attended especially rugby and football.  The pub is popular with destination drinkers and tourists especially in the summer from the local camp sites or out walking in the Derbyshire countryside.  Although the pub is predominantly used to serve drinking customers it would benefit from a small simple food offer that could be prepared in the small galley style kitchen, such as pork pies ploughman’s, sandwiches, Sunday Hot pork rolls with crisp roast potatoes and gravy.

Private Accommodation

Private accommodation consists of three bedrooms, bathroom and lounge.

Annual Rent: £22,000

Security Deposit: £5,000

Working Capital: £4,000

Stock: £4,000

Fixtures and Fittings: To be confirmed upon valuation –  funding options may be available for the right licensee.

Tie: All drinks categories are tied.  For fully funded licensees on long term agreements, we offer free-of-tie options for certain drinks categories in exchange for an annual fee.

Training: £325 plus VAT

For a breakdown on financial information, please refer to the ‘Additional Info’ tab.

The Church Inn presents a chance to become central to the rural community, providing year-round entertainment and warm hospitality. However, it requires a delicate balance, as it also involves effectively welcoming tourists, particularly during the summer months, which demands adeptness in social media and marketing. Prospective applicants should be enthusiastic about introducing a modest yet essential food menu and must harbor a genuine passion for real ale.

Annual Rent – This is our lowest rent figure associated with a Full Tie.  If the tie is reduced the effective rent (via Tie Release Fees) will increase.  Rent is billed and paid for weekly in advance depending on the payment terms agreed). On occasion, our Business Development Manager will discuss a start up rent which is discretionary to an individual pub and can be discussed.

Security Deposit – This sum of money will be held on your account and will be returned to you on exiting of the pub based on your final account balance and the condition of the property.  Our standard deposit is 25% of the headline rent.  On occasion, we can negotiate a lower security deposit with the aim to build up to our full deposit on a long term agreement.

Working Capital – This is a recommend amount required which will be used in the day-to-day running of the business.

Stock – This will be valued by an independent valuer on the day you take over the pub. This includes unbranded glassware, unopened bottles, wines, spirits, any unopened / opened kegs and cask ale providing the container is unopened.

Fixtures & Fittings – This includes any item that is bolted to the floor or walls, and a fitting to be any item that is free standing or hung by a nail or hook. This will also include furniture.

Tie: All drinks categories are tied.  For fully funded licensees on long term agreements, we offer free-of-tie options for certain drinks categories in exchange for an annual fee.

Training – Before signing a long term agreement, you will be required to attend our 7 Steps to Sales Success training programme.  Held online over three days, you will learn marketing and business strategies that will help you to grow sales in your pub – step-by-step.

Service Charge Cost – £60.89 per week – The Admiral Taverns Premium Maintenance Package will help take care of your compliance and statutory obligations with one simple fee, whilst giving you piece of mind about your boiler and cellar cooling repair and replacement.  This also includes full access to e-learning for you and your staff.

*Zero Business Rates – Based on the April 2023 rating list, the Nil Rates Payable is based on small business rates relief being applied and the licensee only occupying one property for commercial purposes.  Please note, this only applies to pubs marked with an Asterix *