Historical Midlands pub dating back to Hanoverian dynasty coming up at auction

A 300-year-old public house set amid the dramatic Bromyard Downs in Herefordshire is one of the headline properties coming up for sale in our October auction.

The unusual lot dating back to the reign of George I, the first monarch of the Hanoverian dynasty,  offers the chance to bring The Royal Oak back to life after its closure three years ago.

The freehold pub in Norton, around one mile north-east of Bromyard, has an additional cottage on its 2.7-acre plot and comes with a guide price* of £275,000+ in our livestreamed auction on Thursday 26 October.

James Mattin, our Managing Director and Auctioneer, explained that The Royal Oak occupies an “idyllic location” on Bromyard Downs.

Mr Mattin said: “This is a 300-year-old, character-filled public house that until its closure in 2020 offered a wide range of food and drink with a large, picturesque beer garden.

“This is an excellent opportunity to reopen and further develop the property to benefit from its sought-after location.

“The pub consists of a main entrance that leads to a self-contained function room, open bar, lounge and dining area, plus kitchen and toilets, all on the ground floor.

“There is a manager’s accommodation above consisting of three bedrooms, a living room, kitchenette and bathroom.

“To the side of the property there is a small ‘one up, one down’ cottage providing further potential.

“Outside, a long sweeping driveway leads to the car park and beer garden with access to further grounds and gardens.”

The pub is nestled away on the Bromyard Downs, 282 acres of registered common land in the Herefordshire countryside, an area of real natural beauty with panoramic views of rolling hills and woodland.

Bromyard itself sits on the main A44 between Worcester (eight miles to the east) and Leominster (nine miles to the west) and is a popular market town with excellent facilities including shops, cafes, a supermarket, schools and good road links to Worcester and Malvern.

Mr Mattin added that any alternative potential uses would be subject to planning permission.

The Royal Oak is just one among scores of lots that are appearing in our next auction, which will start at 9am on Thursday 26 October.

If you have a property you are considering selling, visit https://www.bondwolfe.com/free-property-appraisal/ email [email protected] or call 0121 312 1212 or 01902 928 510 for advice or to arrange a free no obligation valuation.

* Each property is subject to a reserve price which may be different from the guide price.  Please refer to the Important Information and legal pack(s) for further information and any additional fees which may apply.