Asking price: £500k < 1m

Sales revenue: < £200k

Net profit: < £100k

Fixtures value: Undisclosed

Stock value: Undisclosed

Business description
For sale is an established antiques centre housing over 40 individual dealers inside an 18th Century oak framed barn of approximately 1300 sq ft in size.

Set in the Berkshire countryside, the business serves as a centre for antiques dealers from all over the Home Counties. Due to retirement of another partner this established and successful business is for sale as a going concern, at present commanding revenue from 45 individual traders and antiques dealers.

An 18th Century barn and its surrounding buildings are for sale, in the Berkshire countryside just outside the town of Barkham, neighboured on two sides by existing commercial units with a very strong possibility of commercial license being granted.

POTENTIAL

At present the premises have license for a full 7 days trading per week for retail purposes, the potential for converting the existing buildings to residential use is extremely high and the surrounding business' – one neighbouring and one facing, across the road – already in use as rented commercial units implies that commercial license can be granted promptly and without fuss.

The water and electricity come straight from the road and there is a large CalorGas `atom bomb` tank on site as well. There is central heating throughout the barn, stables and tearooms which even uses Victorian era cast iron radiators in all areas.
The main barn is entirely constructed of ancient oak beams, fully exposed, and fully insulated in between. The stables and current tearooms feature exposed beam roofs and exposed reclaimed brick or cladded walls.

This premises, with secure warehousing, ancient timber buildings and large forecourt space allows for many possible uses, among which may be an Animal feed storage and/or retail yard, a Commercial yard subject to planning permissions, a Residential property or development of multiple properties subject to permissions, Restoration workshops, storage, or display facilities for any number of things. Situated between town and country the possibilities of agriculture cannot easily be overlooked.

There also exists 7 days potential for local and nationally advertised retail, as per the existing license.

PROPERTY PARTICULARS

Built in 1740, the oak framed barn built in the New World Dutch style stands alongside partially converted stables including what is currently a tearoom with a fully equipped kitchen. Also dating from a similar period is an elongated shed abutting the main barn which currently serves as toilet block, comprising 4 individually plumbed units. The main floor space of the barn measures 60ft x 22ft (18.3M x 6.7M) with an extended central section with gabled roof. It is further expanded to include three small office units.

Alongside is a modern warehouse measuring 60ft by 60ft (18.3M x 18.3M) built in the 1960s and clad externally in reclaimed timber boards to match the appearance of the barn. The warehouse has forklift access and a loading bay and at present is partially walled off inside.

The plot also houses a considerable space for parking, with an `in & out` horseshoe-shaped driveway with space for 35 to 40 cars. The gated entrance and exit both face onto Barkham Street.

Within the premises is an enclosed courtyard measuring 30ft by 24ft (9.1M x 7.3M) and pathway laid with ancient York flagstone and brick work, running between the barn and stables. Internally the stables retain the original stall dividers for 5 stalls, and include a conversion of the last two stalls into an additional workshop.

There is an alarm system throughout and security cameras in the barn, stables and tearooms.

Years established: 20

Employees: 5

Trading hours: Mon-Sun

Property: Freehold

Location
Part of a small, well-known enclave of commercial enterprises outside a village that is itself almost joined to a market town. Near several larger towns and 35 miles from central London. The surrounding units and premises are either agricultural or industrial, with commercial units being operated across the road. Within 30 metres along the road from either entrance are fields, with the few premises adjacent to each other here being surrounded entirely by pastural farmland.

Being close to both town and country the possibilities for agricultural conversion (livestock housing, feeding, milking, slaughtering; animal feed storage, manufacture, processing, distribution) are huge.

Expansion potential
There is an existing license granted for 7 days retailing, the potential for commercial license being granted is very high as businesses both adjacent and opposite have existing licenses, one for rented units accepting HGV deliveries. This site, located between town and country, and with around an acre of land is ripe for many kinds of expansion and located to take best advantage of especially agriculture related opportunities. A complete change of use, utilising the existing 5000 square feet of floor space is possible from this very moment as all this is enclosed and not subject to any external opinion. New building of additional structures should be negotiable as well. The existing antiques trade could be expanded into smaller segmented use of the warehouse to increase vendor numbers, extra building space is available on either side of said warehouse, multiple storey buildings may be built also, subject to residential permissions, allowing yet more growth and doubling or tripling potential for floor space. A specialist restoration, storage and/or museum development is a strong possibilty with a period display premises in the barn, warehousing, and space and potential for workshops all on the site.

Competition / Market
The few antiques businesses in nearby Wokingham are far smaller in scale and scope, nearby population centres are home to only one similarly sized enterprise where the focus is only on new goods rather than antiques.

Reasons for selling
Retirement of a principal partner.

Related website: www.romseyreclamation.com/antiques_barn.htm