White Hart, Radstock

The White Hart is a large semi-detached pub in the heart of Midsomer Norton in the town centre. Rumoured to be the best-preserved coal mining town in England as well as inspiration for the name of the long-running television series Midsomer Murders. Midsomer Norton has boomed since the 1700s and this history can be found at the Midsomer Norton Museum. The town and area attract visitors for walking or cycling. The Midsomer Norton Farmers’ Market is hosted on each first Saturday of the month on the high street – perfect for local meat, fish, fruits, vegetables and cheeses. There are many green spaces surrounded by shops right in the middle of the high street. The popular Somerset and Dorset Railway, a heritage trust line run by volunteers that is being lovingly restored, brings in many tourists. The local population is approximately twelve thousand and has an equal spread of age distribution.

Pub Layout

The White Hart is built of local stone with a traditional public bar layout, well supported by the locals with an open fire and fully stocked bar. There is a trading snug room off the bar and a much larger lounge bar with another fully stocked bar servery. The lounge bar leads out to a small courtyard garden area with six outside tables. The entrance lobby has an old settle and jug and bottle hatch. At the front of the pub, there are some outside tables to sit out and watch over the town. The well-equipped trade kitchen is located on the ground floor and the kitchen feeds the lounge bar area.

Trading Style:

The public bar seats approx. 20 covers, the snug, 16 and the lounge bar 25. At present the pub trades with wet sales only and this trade is very strong with some excellent barrelage figures. There is real scope to introduce a traditional pub food offer and this is supported by a trade kitchen to deliver this well. With the enhancement of pub teams and entertainment, there is a real opportunity to further increase trade. There is a good cask ale range as well as interesting ciders on offer. The décor, fixtures & fittings are of a very traditional style befitting the nature and character of the pub and its traditional look and feel make this an immensely popular pub in the town.

Private Accommodation

The private accommodation consists of a kitchen, bathroom, living room and three good sized bedrooms.

Annual Rent: £28,000

Security Deposit: £5,000

Working Capital: £5,000

Stock: £3,000

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.

We are looking for an experienced publican who understands the area well. You must be passionate about retail standards, have a love of community life and the ability to look after and grow the local trade opportunity. A passion for real ale and ciders is a must.

With a sympathetic external refurbishment scheme planned to boost the pubs kerb appeal, the White Hart is a fantastic pub loved by the local clientele. This traditional looking pub and great community offer is well established and could be further improved by the introduction of food to complement an already popular business. We are seeking a superb operator who thrives on this style of trading.

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 – £350.00 – Before signing a long term agreement, you will be required to attend our 7 Steps to Sales Success training programme.  Held online over two 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 *