Much-loved pub near Bristol with 'Britain's best beer garden' is on the market

An award-winning village pub known for its beer garden has been listed for sale. The Rising Sun in Pensford, just 10 minutes outside the Bristol ring road, is set for a takeover as its brewery owner searches for a new tenant.

Nestled in the serene Chew Valley in Somerset, it is still just a stone’s throw away from the city despite its idyllic location. It last changed hands just before the covid pandemic hit, and since then it has secured national recognition especially for its incredible views.

Bristol Live understands a change in personal circumstances has led to the pub being put on the market. The asking price is fixed at £15,000, with a rent of £30,000 based on a brand new tenancy agreement with St Austell Brewery.

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Undoubtedly the best feature of the pub is the stunning riverside beer garden which overlooks the Pensford Viaduct, a disused railway bridge dating back to 1873. It provides the ideal backdrop to refuel after a walk around the stunning fields and woodland nearby.

Named England’s second-best beer garden in 2023 by Big 7 Travel, and number one by Union JACK radio in 2020, the garden has seating for up to 60 people and a barbecue gazebo area. Inside, there is seating for 60 punters and a function room for an additional 20.

Large fireplaces, beamed ceilings and stone walls give it the ultimate country feel. The bar has a range of equipment, including a touchscreen till, bar back refrigerators and a coffee machine.

Also on the business premises are ladies' and gents’ toilets, a ground floor freezer store, cellar and bottle store, utility store and a kitchen with a range of commercial equipment. Outside there is also car parking for 20 vehicles.

An external wooden staircase leads to a six-bedroom self-contained private home. According to the listing, it’s been lovingly renovated over the past few years.

The first floor boasts an open-plan kitchen/breakfast area which leads into a second seating area, a modern-fitted shower room and a utility room. The bedrooms are split across both floors, with a second family dining area and family bathroom upstairs.

The popular pub has a 4.5 star rating on TripAdvisor, with one user recently stating it had “everything you want from a village pub and more.” The Rising Sun has been listed by Sprosen Ltd, Weston-Super-Mare.

Agents say the pub is currently open and "trading at £10k per week (unwarranted) on 60/40 wet dry split". Its Sunday roasts are a popular attraction on the food menu, with one recent reviewer describing their pork belly as being "cooked to perfection with perfect crunchy crackling" in a "little gem of a pub".