"This is a fabulously located business, close to the A5 and A55 but set in a tranquil, historic village."
Megan Sutherst
A historic bed and breakfast in the Conwy village that inspired the first of the popular Brother Cadfael series of historical detective novels has been placed on the market by its proprietor. Karen Stanley has asked Blacks Business Brokers to find a new owner for The Lion Inn in Gwytherin, seeking offers over £335,000 to take over the freehold on the premises.
Built in the 17th Century, the Lion Inn is one of the oldest accommodation businesses in North Wales. It is located opposite the village church, which is built on a site that has been visited by pilgrims since the earliest days of Christianity in Wales.
The ground floor of the substantial detached property, which previously also traded as a pub, consists of a large open plan room, a dining area with seating for 24, and a catering kitchen. Upstairs are five en-suite bedrooms.
A separate stable conversion provides another bedroom. Outside is a car park, a garden and a large paddock.
The current owner has run the business as a bed and breakfast, with evening meals available by prior request, since taking over in 2018. She now wishes to sell for health reasons.
The Lion Inn has been run as a lifestyle business by Ms Stanley, who has not operated it at full capacity. In its most recent financial year it turned over £20,000.
Gwytherin is located in a valley on the River Cledwin in the County Borough of Conwy. It was the site of a medieval monastery and was the setting for much of the action in A Morbid Taste for Bones, the first of the much-loved Brother Cadfael novels by Ellis Peters.
The local area is particularly popular with walkers and cyclists. Gwytherin is approximately 40 minutes’ drive from the foot of Mount Snowdon.
Megan Sutherst, sales negotiator at Blacks Business Brokers, said, “This is a fabulously located business, close to the A5 and A55 but set in a tranquil, historic village. It has been run relatively modestly by its current owner but, if they so wished, there would be scope for a new owner to reopen it as a pub, or to extend its dining offering.
“A new website and a focus on marketing could enable a new owner to build on the Lion Inn’s existing popularity. By contrast it could also, subject to planning consent, be converted into a large family home or even into two self-contained cottages.”
All enquiries should be directed to Blacks Business Brokers on 0333 370 0000, quoting reference 7098.
