Popular Shipley pub and ‘secret‘ distillery goes up for sale

A unique drinking and entertainment venue and micro brewery in Shipley has been put up for sale with a guide price of £75,000 with commercial property estate agent Ernest Wilson.

The Fox at Shipley, on Briggate, close to the town‘s train station, has built a reputation with real ale fans for its huge choice of around 60 British and European beers, lagers and ales. The busy pub also has its own small-batch brewing operation in the cellar.

Owner, and Salamander Brewery founder, Chris Bee, who is calling time on his tenure of the Fox in order to invest in his property portfolio, says the brewery might be an extra draw for potential new owners of the venue.

"I have a background in brewing beer and distilling spirits so we have always produced small batches of our own brand of limited edition gin and craft ales at the Fox," said Chris. "I’m really keen to pass on my knowledge and expertise to anyone interested in taking over the venue who’s not yet been initiated in the art of making beers and spirits so that they can carry on the tradition. The still and brewery is in place and working well in our cellar, so it would just involve training someone in how to carry out the process."

He added: "The brewing side of the business is actually quite a lucrative one. The gin and beer that we make here in the pub is not liable to excise duty and so there are good profit margins to be made. With our average weekly turnover of around £6,000, this is a thriving little business."

The Fox regularly draws large numbers of customers for its events schedule and according to the agents there is scope to extend the catering offering. Mark Czajka, a director at Ernest Wilson, said: “The Fox currntly serves a menu of bar snacks but there’s definitely the capacity to expand that range and offer breakfasts or bottomless brunches, as well as televising sporting events."

The pub seats 50 people in its bar with seating outside in the heated beer garden for a further 20 customers.

Mark added: “Chris owns the property so there’s flexibility around the lease terms and there is also the potential to buy the freehold interest in the whole building, which includes five flats and produces a rental income of £24,000 per annum. A first refusal purchase option could also be written into the lease."