Food for thought as freehold up for sale after 28 years

A couple who have been at the same pub for 28 years are selling their freehold. Chris and Rosemary Anderson moved into the White Hart at Lissington,...

A couple who have been at the same pub for 28 years are selling their freehold.

Chris and Rosemary Anderson moved into the White Hart at Lissington, Lincolnshire, in 1978, paying £52,000 for the pub.

"It was a lot of money back then," said Chris Anderson. "I used to be a life insurance salesman but I wanted to work in a trade that was more sociable."

Anderson said the licensed trade was very different in 1978.

"Pubs didn't really serve food and if they did, it was usually a sandwich. I can remember when we extended our food menu to include chicken in a basket.

"Out of a dozen or so pubs in a 10-mile radius, there was only ours and one other that served any kind of food.

"Today, my wife is in charge of catering and we have an a la carte menu with dishes from all over the world."

The couple spent about £40,000 on extending the pub to accommodate the new dining areas.

"I now take more in

one evening than we used to take in a week," added Anderson.

The current turnover is £264,000 a year and trade is split 60/40 wet/dry.

The venue is on the market through Davey & Co at £625,000 for the freehold interest.