Run an Admiral Pub - The Church Inn, Darley Dale

The Church Inn is located in the village of Darley Dale 4 miles from Matlock in the Derbyshire peak District. The Church is a quintessentially English stone-built country pub. and as its name suggests, it is opposite the church and surrounded by cottage style housing to the rear and open countryside to the front. It is near to several tourist camp sites and the Derbyshire steam railway line. This is most definitely a country pub, with locals, muddy boots, cask ales and lots of dogs.

Pub Layout

As you enter the pub it has a central bar serving two separate rooms, a lounge snug with comfy seating, hard wood tables and an open fire creating a warm welcoming. The second room is larger and more open plan with harder stone floor and wooden seating. A darts oche and TV give this more of a bar feel and room for vertical drinking. This room spreads into an area housing two sofas, low tables and a log burning stove. To the rear the pub has a good drinking yard with a smoking solution, a good sized enclosed beer garden and several outbuildings. To the front of the property just across the lane is a  really large area partly tarmacked for parking and a grassed area with an abundance of picnic tables for customers use. This backs onto the steam railway line and bridal path.

The pub currently enjoys an excellent local trade as it has a leading choice and quality cask ale offer. The current licensee is local and plays his part in the local rural community which is vital to its popularity. The clientele are varied in social demographic and age with a broad range of customers that makes the pub special. It is not all horse riders and ale drinkers, with regular live bands and events put on outside in the summer, world lagers, wines and Gins are sold a plenty. Major sporting events are shown and well attended especially rugby and football.

The pub is popular with destination drinkers and tourists especially in the summer from the local camp sites or out walking in the Derbyshire countryside.

Although the pub is predominantly used to serve drinking customers it would benefit from a small simple food offer that could be prepared in the small galley style kitchen, such as pork pies ploughman’s, sandwiches, Sunday Hot pork rolls with crisp roast potatoes and gravy.

Private Accommodation consists of three bedrooms, bathroom and lounge.

Your investment £13,000

Annual Rent: £17,000

Security Deposit: £5,000

Working Capital: £4,000

Stock: £4,000

F&F: £4,000 (Funding options available)

Training: £325 plus VAT

This is an opportunity to be at the heart of this rural community delivering year round entertainment and friendly service. It must be balanced with the welcome integration of tourists especially in the summer and that will take a strength in social media and marketing. The applicants must want to add that vital small food offering and have passion for real ale.