The Queen looks set to personally own her first ever pub at her Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
The gastro-style pub is planned to be created in her estate’s former social club which closed down two-years-ago.
The Royal estate – which is privately owned by the Queen – plans to lease out the vacant Victorian building for conversion into a pub while retaining the freehold.
If the plans go-ahead, it will mean that the Queen will have her own watering hole less than a mile away from Sandringham House, while it will also be a new local for Prince William and his family, who have their country retreat just across the fields at Anmer Hall.
The Queen (pictured in April 2022) looks set to personally own her first ever pub
The gastro-style pub is planned to be created in her estate’s former social club which closed down two-years-ago at Sandringham in north Norfolk, opposite St Peter and St Paul’s church in the village of West Newton
The Royal estate – which is privately owned by the Queen – plans to lease out the vacant Victorian building for conversion into a pub while retaining the freehold
Estate agents Landles describe it as ‘a rare opportunity for the right operator to develop a new destination public house with restaurant and letting room potential.’
The 4,350 sq ft building was the home of the Sandringham Club which was opened in 1884 by the Queen’s great grandfather King Edward VII when he was Prince of Wales.
It is opposite St Peter and St Paul’s church in the village of West Newton where the Queen usually worships once a year, and the church hall where she attends Sandringham Women’s Institute meetings.
Local villagers are said to have given a mixed reaction with some concerned about cars clogging up local roads and others looking forward to having a pint on their doorstep.
Landles describes the former club as being ‘full of character and occupying an elevated position’ with ‘tremendous panoramic views over the adjacent farmland and the wide blue skies of North West Norfolk.’
The 4,350 sq ft building was the home of the Sandringham Club which was opened in 1884
If the plans go-ahead, it will mean that the 96-year-old Queen will have her own watering hole less than a mile away from Sandringham House
Estate agents Landles describe it as ‘a rare opportunity for the right operator to develop a new destination public house with restaurant and letting room potential’
It is hoped a new occupier will engage the local community, for a new lease of life into the premises and help sustain the building
The idea for a pub is the latest in a series of innovations introduced by Prince Charles since he took over the running of the 20,000 acre estate from his father Prince Philip.
Charles has made the estate totally organic, has improved car parks, revamped the restaurant and gift shop and built a new adventure playground – although everything is still owned by the Queen.
The leasing particulars state that any applicant to operate the pub will have to provide a resume of industry experience, financial references and have a plan for ‘community engagement consultation’ to ensure the backing of local residents.
Landles says the building is in the heart of an ‘established destination for the substantial and expanding holiday and tourism economy of Norfolk country and coastal area’
The Club – built of redbrick and local Carstone – provided facilities including a bar with a concealed vaulted ceiling, and a snooker room for locals and workers on the estate before its closure.
The Club – built of redbrick and local Carstone – provided facilities including a bar with a concealed vaulted ceiling, and a snooker room for locals and workers on the estate before its closure
The leasing particulars state an applicant must provide a resume of industry experience, financial references and have a plan to ensure the backing of local residents
The idea for a pub is the latest in a series of innovations introduced by Prince Charles since he took over the running of the 20,000 acre estate
Estate agents Landles, based in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, said: ‘Due to the effects of the pandemic and the decline in membership, as with other small, private establishments in the hospitality sector the difficult decision was made not to re-open the Club’
But Landles which is based in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, said: ‘Due to the effects of the pandemic and the decline in membership, as with other small, private establishments in the hospitality sector the difficult decision was made not to re-open the Club.
‘Hence, a new occupier is now sought, with a plan to include engagement with the local community, for a new lease of life bringing commercial activity to the benefit the community and help sustain these important premises.
‘The premises are vacant and now offer an ideal and unique opportunity for investment and upgrading for a new occupier and business as a public house with associated restaurant.
‘Capital investment is required and the proposal is set out to allow a new ingoing tenant the incentive to create a new business.’
The existing bowls club next door to the pub and the butcher’s shop which is in the front of the building will continue to operate independently.
The terms of any lease have not been revealed by the agents.
The building is in the heart of an ‘established destination for the substantial and expanding holiday and tourism economy of Norfolk country and coastal area’
Local villagers are said to have given a mixed reaction with some concerned about cars clogging up local roads and others looking forward to having a pint on their doorstep
