Popular Newlyn Meadery that used to be a cinema up for sale

A popular medieval style restaurant which started its life as a cinema is up for sale for the first time in 60 years. The Newlyn Meadery has been in the same family for six decades.

The owners of the Meadery have now decided to move on and hope that someone else will be able to take on the well-regarded restaurant and keep it open. The restaurant started life at the the turn of the 20th century as a cinema.

The owner was the projectionist and his wife played the piano throughout the silent films. When the cinema ceased to trade, the building was purchased by a local businessman.

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In 1964 the bottom part of the building opened as a wine bar, with medieval décor, selling Cornish Mead and their special extra strength fruit wines. It was decided to add food to the menu and in keeping with the theme served chicken and chips on wooden platters and the customers were expected to eat these with their fingers, very different for those days.

A family member behind the successful Meadery said: "The Meadery has been a major part of our life, but now we are looking to do other things and have taken the decision to sell. The customers and staff are fantastic and we want to make sure that they are both are taken care of and so they can enjoy the atmosphere, food and drink for many years to come."

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The restaurant, which can serve 120 covers, and is one of the most popular restaurants in the area, is now on the market for £750,000 for the buildings, inventory and goodwill.

Mike Easton at Vickery Holman, which is handling the sale, said: "The Meadery celebrates all that is hospitality in a vibrant medieval style setting. The business is profitable and successful in its current format and ready for new owners to take on the reins. Newlyn is a vibrant location, and we anticipate plenty of interest."