Profitable Exmoor Hotel With 14 En-Suite Rooms For Sale

Dulverton, Somerset, UK

Asking Price:: £450,000 Furniture / Fixtures and Inventory / Stock included

Turnover:: Undisclosed

Net Profit:: Undisclosed

Profitable freehold country inn and hotel in central Dulverton, offering 14 en-suite letting bedrooms, bar and restaurant facilities, an underutilised function room and Tap Bar, plus private owner’s accommodation at the gateway to Exmoor National Park.

The Lion Hotel is a substantial Grade II Listed former coaching inn dating from 1822 and operates as an independent, family-run hotel. Accommodation is the principal income stream, accounting for approximately 75% of turnover, with the broker reporting strong gross profit, consistent occupancy, repeat custom and year-round visitor demand. The 14 en-suite letting bedrooms comprise a mix of standard and premium rooms and are fully furnished with televisions, hospitality trays, free Wi-Fi, toiletries and complimentary bottled water. The hotel is dog-friendly, with well-behaved dogs welcomed in all letting rooms.

The business uses targeted promotions to support occupancy, including a popular “Dog Special”, early-booking incentives offering discounts of up to 15% and midweek “4 for 3” promotions. Additional income is generated through the bar and ancillary areas. The separate Tap Bar has its own independent access and, although currently closed, provides a significant opportunity to reintroduce wet trade, let the space as a separate unit or consider alternative uses such as a snack bar or ice cream parlour. The currently unused dining/function room provides further scope to develop food, functions and events.

Further growth opportunities identified by the broker include greater utilisation of the existing trading areas, continued accommodation marketing, refinement of pricing strategy, selective room upgrades and potential repositioning as a boutique-style country hotel to capitalise on the Exmoor location.

The sale includes the goodwill of the business together with trade fixtures, fittings and equipment subject to inventory. The freehold is being sold with vacant possession as a going concern; although the property is currently subject to a lease, this will be forfeited on completion of the freehold sale. Private owner’s accommodation on the first floor provides an additional home-and-income benefit.

Property Information

Property:: Freehold

Lease Terms:: Freehold with vacant possession. The property is currently subject to a lease, which will be forfeited on completion of the freehold sale. The business is to be sold as a going concern with the benefit of goodwill and trade inventory.

Living Accommodation:: Private first-floor owner's accommodation comprising an open-plan living room incorporating a double bedroom, galley-style fitted kitchen and bathroom with bath, fitted shower and WC. There is also an owner's lounge, previously used as a residents' lounge.

Location:

The Lion Hotel occupies a prominent position overlooking Bank Square in the centre of Dulverton, an attractive historic market town widely regarded as a gateway to Exmoor National Park.

Dulverton is approximately 12 miles north of Tiverton and approximately 18 miles from the M5, with Junction 27 providing access to the wider motorway network. Its position on the edge of Exmoor makes the town a popular base for tourists, walkers, cyclists and country sports enthusiasts, supporting visitor trade throughout the year.

The town offers independent shops, cafés, galleries and traditional pubs together with the nearby Exmoor National Park Visitor Centre. The surrounding area provides access to Exmoor's moorland, walking routes and wildlife, including its well-known red deer and Exmoor ponies.

Premises Details:

Substantial Grade II Listed former coaching inn originally constructed in 1822, predominantly of stone with rendered elevations and retaining numerous period features.

The main entrance leads through a portico lobby into a recently refurbished reception and lounge with bespoke reception counter, period fireplace, exposed ceiling beams, Chesterfield sofas and other seating, plus an open fireplace with cast-iron wood burner.

The split-level lounge bar/restaurant provides an upper dining area with approximately 40 covers, fixed banquette seating, tables and bar stools, stone reveal walls and a feature fireplace with cast-iron wood burner. A recently remodelled central bar servery has a wooden counter, mirrored back bar and optics.

A separate dining/function room has capacity for up to approximately 40 covers and is currently unused, providing direct access to the commercial kitchen.

The commercial kitchen has commercial flooring, stainless-steel panelling, extraction and a range of professional catering equipment. Ancillary facilities include a separate wash-up room with Winterhalter pass-through dishwasher, stainless-steel sink, freezers, dry store with fitted shelving and boiler room with industrial Strebel boiler.

A ground-floor beer cellar has a modern installation including ring main and python, chiller, wooden stillage for real ales and a separate spirit store. Ladies' and gents' cloakrooms are also provided.

The separate Tap Bar occupies the south-west corner of the building and benefits from independent access. It has a bar servery, timber panelling and its own gents' cloakroom. Historically operated as a popular wet bar, it is currently closed.

Hotel accommodation extends across the first and second floors and comprises 14 en-suite letting bedrooms with central heating and fitted carpets.

First floor accommodation comprises Room 1 double, Room 2 twin, Room 3 family room with double bed and separate bunk room, Rooms 4, 5 and 7 singles, Rooms 6, 8 and 9 doubles, and Room 10, currently used for staff accommodation. There is also an owner's lounge, previously used as a residents' lounge, with period fireplace and marble hearth.

Second floor accommodation comprises Room 11, a double with four-poster bed; Room 12, a triple; Room 14, a small family room with double and single beds; and Room 15, a single.

The property is connected to all mains services.

Energy Performance Rating:: E

Business Operation

Management type:: This business is owner operated.

Expansion Potential:: Greater utilisation of the currently closed Tap Bar and unused dining/function room provides scope to grow wet, food and function income. The Tap Bar could also potentially be let as a separate unit or used for another complementary purpose. Further opportunities identified by the broker include continued accommodation marketing, refinement of pricing strategy, selective upgrading of rooms and potential repositioning as a boutique-style country hotel.