Well-known Northumberland pub with 'superb reputation' is up for sale

A grade two-listed pub at the centre of Hexham is now on the market and expected to attract a flood of interest.

The aptly-named The Heart of Northumberland is just off the town's market place and following a major renovation in 2015 it boasts a contemporary 'great British pub' style. Now its freehold interest is up for sale - for an asking price of £595,000 - after owner Alan Philipson decided to focus upon his growing young family and new future projects.

Alan first took on the pub in his home town around nine years ago, after a long time spent working for top independent bars then a national pub and restaurant chain.

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He set about bringing the closed-down and almost derelict building back to life and it is now in a condition which Christie & Co, the specialist business property advisor handling the sale, calls "superbly well-presented".

Based in Hexham's Market Street, the pub has built up a proud reputation for food and drink, serving up traditional Northumbrian food made from locally-sourced ingredients - including light bites; pub classics; bar snacks; children's meals and what's described as "the best Sunday roast around" - alongside an extensive wine range; a cutting-edge keg selection; a "perfect pint of Tim Taylors Landlord" and four rotating hand-pulls of local ales.

In 2018 The Heart of Northumberland was voted the runner-up 'best place to dink' in the Observer Food Magazine Awards and it says was more recently named the eighth 'cosiest pub in the UK'. It’s a popular stop-off for friends and families and dogs are welcome too.

Alan said: "I’m very proud of what the team and I have created here at the Heart over the last nine years. We have a superb reputation locally and we’re very well used by visitors coming to the area in this booming, tourist location.

"I now have a growing, young family I want to spend more time with and focus on some different projects and interests in the future." David Cash, regional director at Christie & Co, said: “The Heart is a brilliant example of an independently-run freehouse which holds itself to impeccable standards.

"Freehold opportunities like this in such strong trading locations rarely come to market and there is strong appetite from regional and national pub companies as well as local entrepreneurs looking to run pubs so I suspect we’ll have early interest from a multitude of buyers.

"The freehold property is being sold along with the well-performing and profitable going-concern business and so staff and customers should be reassured of the pub's future.” For Christie & Co details see here.