Fox & Hounds, Saffron Walden

The Fox & Hounds enjoys a prominent position in the heart of Clavering close to Saffron Walden, Essex. Clavering is an attractive village with a post office, primary school, village hall, a large playing field called Jubilee Field with bowls and tennis facilities and a children’s play area. Adjoining is Simon’s Wood which provides access to many countryside walks. The area has several accessible fishing lakes, which attract keen anglers. There is one other pub that is effectively a gastro restaurant and hotel. Clavering is situated 20 miles south of Cambridge and close to the border of Hertfordshire only 10 miles from Stansted Airport. The Fox & Hounds is a detached building and has been decorated with a more modern look and feel. The pub currently creates a warm friendly atmosphere where customers can enjoy good quality home cooked food and well kept real ales, lagers and wines and has been named in the Good Beer Guide. The pub has undergone a full refurbishment and is available in very good condition inside and out and is ready for a new chapter.

Pub Layout

The outlet trades from one large open plan room on the ground floor which is served from a central bar servery with approximately 50 covers. This offers all round vision and ease of service to all areas of the pub and a mixture of fixed and loose seating together with an area suitable for drinkers or people wishing to stand.

The catering kitchen is located next to the separate restaurant area and is of a good size and compliant with a central prep area and efficient large cook line. At the rear of the outlet is a beautiful beer garden which also has a patio area that is ideal for families with children or for those who love to sit outside on summer evenings.

There is also a large car park that can accommodate at least twenty cars.

The Fox and Hounds currently trades as a premium focused pub for locals to have a drink, as well as a destination food site. We believe this can move to an even more premium offer with higher end quality food and still retain being a pub at heart with a warm tavern feel inside and a good external drinking and eating area.

There are a number of food-led pubs in villages nearby and the Fox and Hounds should be seen as one of the best with an exceptional food offer and great customer service.

Digital Links

https://foxandhoundsclavering.com/

https://www.facebook.com/FoxAndHoundsClavering

Private Accommodation

The domestic accommodation is of a good size and provides ample family accommodation. This consists of three bedrooms, one with an en-suite and a family bathroom. There is a separate external entrance to the pub as well as access from within the pub and there is also a small private garden. The accommodation is in very good decorative order.

There is also a separate chalet with two self contained one bedroom cottages, which are suitable for staff members such as chefs. These chalets cant be used as letting rooms due to planning considerations but can help recruit good quality staff who can make use of this accommodation.

Annual Rent: £24,000

Security Deposit: £6,000

Working Capital: £6,000

Stock: £4,000

Business Rates: £Nil.  Based on the April 2023 rating list, the Zero Rates Payable is based on small business rates relief being applied and the licensee only occupying one property for commercial purposes.

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 Fox and Hounds would suit an experienced hospitality partnership one of whom should be a very experienced chef. The Pub is in a very smart area and well suited to Saffron Walden as well as Stansted so there are opportunities to drive the premium side further and use the inside space and garden area for private functions. Great use of local marketing as well as Social Media driving a distinct message would further help make the pub a great success.

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 *