One more pub site’s up for sale in Devizes
7:00am Sunday 12th June 2011
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Time has been called on another Devizes pub, the Queen’s Head, in Dunkirk Hill.
The owners have put the Grade II* listed property on the market after they were granted planning permission for it to be converted into a house.
The pub has been empty since August 2008. Other pubs that have closed and are for sale include the Royal Oak pub in New Park Street, Devizes, and the Stage Post Inn in West Lavington.
Paul Redman, his partner Sarah Udo-Affia and business partner Nick Branch, bought the Queen’s Head two years ago and were considering offering it for lease but said it was not viable.
Mr Redman, an architect in Bristol, said: “We spoke to agents about it reopening as a pub but they were recommending lower rents for it and there were better conditioned pubs coming on to the
market. Everyone was telling us that other pubs would survive before this one. It was obvious no one would want it.
“Turning the pub into a house increases its value and allows it to be repaired and protects the building. The planners at Wiltshire Council were concerned it didn’t have a future as a pub and it
would deteriorate.
“Structurally the property is pretty sound. There are no major defects but it does need a lot of work done on it.”
The guide price is £175,000 and sealed bids are invited by June 16 to Martin Walker estate agents, Devizes. The large property, which dates back to the 18th century, has six bedrooms.
A wealth of old maps and deeds, including a hand-painted map from 1721, have been donated by Wadworth Brewery, which once owned the pub, to the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham.
Mr Redmond and his partners have planning permission to build three cottages next to the Queen’s Head and they will continue with that project.
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