Foodies pub changes hands

A food-led freehouse which is the only pub in the village of Great Braxted, near Witham, Essex, has changed hands.

The Du Cane Arms has been sold on behalf of Alan and Angela Hyde through the Ipswich office of agent Christie & Co.

New owners are Fred Rodford and his wife, for whom the pub will be a home from home, since they already live in the village and have been regular customers over a number of years.

The Du Cane Arms has earned an enviable reputation under the guidance of the Hyde family, Alan's parents having originally purchased the business in 1991.

This reputation is recognised by regular entries in many pub and food guides, including Camra and Les Routiers publications, and the AA Pub Guide 2004, and the Good Pub Guide.

Food currently accounts for some 70% of turnover.

The Du Cane Arms is located in Tiptree Road in the centre of Great Braxted, which lies just off the A12 between Colchester and Chelmsford.

It is a two-storey detached property, which was built in the 1930s on the site of a much older pub of the same name, which derives from the Du Cane family of Braxted Lodge.

The property was extended in September 2000 to create a large commercial kitchen and a self-contained bungalow to the rear.

It comprises a lounge bar to seat 40, a restaurant to seat up to 36 and three-bedroom owner's accommodation in addition to the bungalow.

There is a beer garden adjacent to the restaurant, a private garden and a car park.

Bill Colquhoun, associate director of Christie & Co, said: "We were delighted to handle the sale of this food-led freehouse on behalf of the Hyde family.

"We are experiencing strong demand for privately owned freehold public houses throughout the region."

The Du Cane Arms was sold for an undisclosed figure, from a quoted asking price of £695,000 freehold.