Could a decent local boost house prices? Homes within walking distance of a friendly pub are hot property, say estate agents
- A local pub is up there with good schools and decent neighbours in a home hunt
- Proximity to a good pub can add plenty of value onto a home
- Inns are part of our proud heritage and reflect the history of towns and villages
What would make you give it all up for village life? It might be decent neighbours, good schools and beautiful walks nearby — but a welcoming local pub is also becoming a popular answer.
‘Super Saturday’ last weekend, when licensed premises re-opened, couldn’t have come swiftly enough for many of us.
Inns, are part of Britain’s proud heritage, and reflect the history of the towns and villages in which they stand — as well as offering a good pint, hearty meals and sometimes a bed for the night, too.
Charming: The Star Inn at Alfriston, East Sussex, a village offering great ambiance, fine views and lots of history
The rise of ‘community pubs’ — where villagers band together to save threatened alehouses through crowdfunding — demonstrates just how indispensable they are.
During normal times, pubs are the beating heart of rural communities. So it’s unsurprising that having a good one close by is forming part of property searches carried out by buyers.
In turn, this is shaping the prices of the homes on offer too.
Nigel Mitchell, of Knight Frank, says: ‘There are most certainly buyers out there looking to be within walking distance of the village pub when house hunting.’
The charm of Cotswolds market town Charlbury is well-known. It also has the added benefit of hosting the annual Wilderness Festival, while members’ club Soho Farmhouse is only a short drive away.
But when the glamorous weekenders have vanished, Charlbury still attracts a healthy number of visitors — thanks in part to its convivial pubs.
The Bull Inn, has been recently renovated to an exceptional standard by the husband and wife team of Charlie and Willow Crossley.
Luke Morgan, Director of Strutt & Parker Country Department, says: ‘People don’t just visit the pub to have a pint, their operations transform a village.
‘Any village that can display a strong sense of community is always more popular.’
It may be fair to say that intrigue is the driving force behind those who visit 15th-century former coaching inn, the King’s Head, in Shepperton.
The pub’s proximity to world-famous Shepperton Studios in Surrey means it’s been a movie stars’ watering-hole for decades.
It’s also said to have a headless ghost and history buffs love that it was where Admiral Lord Nelson courted Lady Hamilton
Given the relatively small size of Shepperton, the King’s Head is a great example of how a warm and inviting pub that is also historically interesting can become a magnet for visitors and home buyers.
Andrew Chambers, of Knight Frank, says: ‘In Shepperton, you’ve got the best of both worlds — the perfect village setup with a hall, shops, post office. But you’re also on a train line which takes you straight into London Waterloo.’
A four-bedroom house in the heart of the village, within walking distance of the King’s Head, comes in at £900,000 plus.
The South Downs National Park, which marks its tenth anniversary this year, continues to be a popular destination for relocators.
‘One that ticks every box is Alfriston, East Sussex, one of the ‘Downland’ villages in the Cuckmere Valley between Lewes and Eastbourne,’ says Freddie Dryden, of Strutt & Parker Lewes.
The George Inn and Star Inn lie at the heart of this pretty village, both offering great ambiance, fine views and lots of history.
‘When families move from more built-up areas into the countryside, easily accessible services are high up on the list says Dryden.
‘Desirable villages should firstly be unspoilt, picturesque and surrounded by lovely countryside.
‘After that, a pub, shop/post office, primary school, and good community spirit is important.
‘They become ‘pillars of the parish’ for those who live there; they create that common ground for a community and help to support life that’s a little more removed from town living.’
A centrally located four-bedroom house will fetch more than £700,000 in this charming village.
THIS IS MONEY PODCAST
- The self-employed excluded from the coronavirus rescue
- Has lockdown left you with more to save or struggling?
- Are banks triggering a mortgage credit crunch?
- The rise of the lockdown investor – and tips to get started
- Are electric bikes and scooters the future of getting about?
- Are we all going on a summer holiday?
- Could your savings rate turn negative?
- How many state pensions were underpaid? With Steve Webb
- Santander’s 123 chop and how do we pay for the crash?
- Is the Fomo rally the read deal, or will shares dive again?
- Is investing instead of saving worth the risk?
- How bad will recession be – and what will recovery look like?
- Staying social and bright ideas on the ‘good news episode’
- Is furloughing workers the best way to save jobs?
- Will the coronavirus lockdown sink house prices?
- Will helicopter money be the antidote to the coronavirus crisis?
- The Budget, the base rate cut and the stock market crash
- Does Nationwide’s savings lottery show there’s life in the cash Isa?
- Bull markets don’t die of old age, but do they die of coronavirus?
- How do you make comedy pay the bills? Shappi Khorsandi on Making the…
- As NS&I and Marcus cut rates, what’s the point of saving?
- Will the new Chancellor give pension tax relief the chop?
- Are you ready for an electric car? And how to buy at 40% off
- How to fund a life of adventure: Alastair Humphreys
- What does Brexit mean for your finances and rights?
- Are tax returns too taxing – and should you do one?
- Has Santander killed off current accounts with benefits?
- Making the Money Work: Olympic boxer Anthony Ogogo
- Does the watchdog have a plan to finally help savers?
- Making the Money Work: Solo Atlantic rower Kiko Matthews
- The biggest stories of 2019: From Woodford to the wealth gap
- Does the Boris bounce have legs?
- Are the rich really getting richer and poor poorer?
- It could be you! What would you spend a lottery win on?
- Who will win the election battle for the future of our finances?
- How does Labour plan to raise taxes and spend?
- Would you buy an electric car yet – and which are best?
- How much should you try to burglar-proof your home?
- Does loyalty pay? Nationwide, Tesco and where we are loyal
- Will investors benefit from Woodford being axed and what next?
- Does buying a property at auction really get you a good deal?
- Crunch time for Brexit, but should you protect or try to profit?
- How much do you need to save into a pension?
- Is a tough property market the best time to buy a home?
- Should investors and buy-to-letters pay more tax on profits?
- Savings rate cuts, buy-to-let vs right to buy and a bit of Brexit
- Do those born in the 80s really face a state pension age of 75?
- Can consumer power help the planet? Look after your back yard
- Is there a recession looming and what next for interest rates?
- Tricks ruthless scammers use to steal your pension revealed
- Is IR35 a tax trap for the self-employed or making people play fair?
- What Boris as Prime Minister means for your money
- Who’s afraid of a no-deal Brexit? The potential impact
- Is it time to cut inheritance tax or hike it?
- What can investors learn from the Woodford fiasco?
- Would you sign up to an estate agent offering to sell your home for…
- Will there be a mis-selling scandal over final salary pension advice?
- Upsize, downsize: Is swapping your home a good idea?
- What went wrong for Neil Woodford and his fund?
- The incorrect forecasts leaving state pensions in a muddle
- Does the mortgage price war spell trouble in the future?
- Would being richer make you happy? Inequality in the UK
- Would you build your own home? The plan to make it easier
- Would you pay more tax to make sure you get care in old age?
- Is it possible to help the planet, save cash and make money?
- As TSB commits to refund all fraud, will others follow?
- How London Capital & Finance blew up and hit savers
- Are you one of the millions in line for a pay rise?
- How to sort your Isa or pension before it’s too late
- What will power our homes in the future if not gas?
- Can Britain afford to pay MORE tax?
- Why the cash Isa is finally bouncing back
- What would YOU do if you won the Premium Bonds?
- Would you challenge a will? Inheritance disputes are on the rise
- Are we primed for a Brexit bounce – or a slowdown?
- How to start investing or become a smarter investor
- Everything you need to know about saving