Lancashire Punch pub sold to first-time operator

The Jolly Sailor, a traditional pub in the town of Waterfoot, situated in the Rossendale district of Lancashire, has been sold through Christie & Co, to a new owner-operator.

The Jolly Sailor, previously a Punch Taverns pub, is a well-known, local establishment, offering seating for more than 50 patrons, a games room with pool table, and three large televisions, regularly streaming live sports. Outside, the pub provides an attractive, decked beer garden and sheltered smoking area.

A long standing fixture in Waterfoot, the Jolly Sailor occupies a prominent position close to the centre of the town, serving the nearby and wider community and passing trade to the larger towns and cities of Burnley, Bolton and Manchester, plus visitors to Rossendale Way and Lee Quarry, popular with keen walkers and mountain bikers.

Traditionally operated as a wet-led pub, The Jolly Sailor is equipped with a catering kitchen giving the new proprietor plenty of scope to increase trade with an expanded food offering throughout the day. The pub also includes first floor owner’s accommodation, in the form of a four bedroom apartment, allowing the new owner, Helen Rawstron, to reside on the premises and take a hands-on role in managing The Jolly Sailor day-to-day.

A first time entrant to the pub sector, Rawstron commented, “Our family chose to purchase the Jolly Sailor in order to prevent it being redeveloped. It’s always a shame when a local pub closes and we didn’t want the Jolly Sailor to be lost to the community.

‘My family have extensive experience running Ye Olde Boot & Shoe just down the road, and we will be retaining the existing manager of The Jolly Sailor – this will continue to be the local’s pub that customers know and love.”

Tom O’Malley, Senior Business Agent at Christie & Co who handled the sale, commented, “It’s great to see The Jolly Sailor sold to a local buyer who can bring this much-loved local’s pub back into operation within the community. It demonstrates that when corporate pub companies withdraw from an area, there is still strong demand from independent operators. We wish Helen every success.”

The Jolly Sailor was sold through Christie & Co on a freehold basis off an asking price of £195k.