Bellabeg Shop (Spar) & Post Office, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, AB36 8UL

The business has been operating within Bellabeg for circa 128yrs, with our clients running the shop and post office for the last nine years. The business trades as a licensed village convenience store offering a vital and central focal point for the community with the nearest supermarket over 20 miles away. Considerable expense has been invested into both the refurbishment of the house and shop premises.
The Post Office provides an annual salary plus commissions and is an excellent footfall draw with locals and tourists. Our clients also branch out to provide bulk pet feeds and a ?sale & return? services to the local community for weddings, parties and other functions, which include the famous Lonach Highland Gathering that brings circa 10,000 visitors and is held on the fourth Saturday in August every year generating extra income to the business. In recent years our clients have used their six bedroom house as a B&B generating additional income. This was stopped during COVID lockdowns with guests recently returning to normal.
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Bellabeg is a small village in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire. It is located on the A944 which connects the A97 to the A939, providing access to the surrounding areas.It is around 42 miles west of Aberdeen, 30 miles north west of Banchory and 30 miles south east of Grantown-on-Spey.

Bellabeg hosts the annual Lonach Gathering (Highland Games) in the month of August which can hold up to 10,000 visitors on the day. With Bellabeg situated within the Cairngorms National Park, other attractions to the area include fishing, hill-walking, and bird watching. With the near-by Glenshee Ski Centre and Lecht Ski centre both offering both winter and summer activities such as skiing, snowboarding and mountain biking it ensures a stream visitors passing through the area all year.

Bellabeg also has a Primary School within walking distance while the local Doctors surgery and pub are also close by. Alford Academy, the nearest High School, is 20 miles away with Bellabeg being on the school bus route.

On offer is a very well presented and modern retail shop with high specification fixtures and fittings throughout. The property benefits from a modern tiled floor, suspended ceiling and air conditioning unit overhead. There is a small office behind the service area which can be accessed from the accommodation.

A single entrance door opens into the store with soft drinks chiller, crisps and confectionary displayed leading to the service area. The counter contains a single till unit and Lottery terminal. Alcohol is merchandised on shelving behind the service point. Shelving holding household items and pet food lead towards the right hand side of the store where there is a coffee machine, fresh food chillers, two freezer cabinets and a gondola containing more grocery items.

To the rear of the store lies the Post Office counter with bulk pet food stored on shelving.

Above the shop there is a recently renovated storage space and office facilities.

We have been advised that all trade fixtures and fittings are owned outright and included within the sale/purchase apart from coffee machine and oven which are free on loan from companies providing supplying the service.

Any personal items in the office remain our clients possessions.

The main building comprises of a substantial Victorian property located on a prominent corner plot fronting the A944. It is a two-storey detached property built in the mid to late 19th Century. The premises was originally used as a bank and manager's house. The main property is formed under a pitched and slate roof.

The business premises can be accessed via a single glazed entranceway with prominent modern signage overhead. There is an area of ground for off road parking at the corner with Glen Nochty Road.

The subject property currently offers direct access from the shop premises, plus private entrance both from the front and rear of the main building.

The owners accommodation briefly comprises of the following

Ground Floor
Lounge, kitchen, dining room and WC.

First Floor
5 double bedrooms, including a master bedroom with ensuite, 1 single bedroom and family bathroom.

The property has an oil fired heating system with connections to mains electricity only. We are advised there is a private water supply originating from the hills to the rear and is shared among other surrounding dwellings.

Please see attached floor plans for a detailed overview.

To the rear of the shop is a detached store/shed mainly used for business use with tourist information available.

Directly behind the main property are sizable garden grounds with a large "L" shaped steading currently empty but in good condition, and used by our clients as an area to relax and entertain friends and family (not licensed). This property offers excellent development potential, subject to planning consents.

A strong symbol branded store, recent Winner of the SPAR/ CJ Lang ?Best Independent Community Store in Scotland 2022', located in the beautiful area of Strathdon.

With the Post Office offering much needed services for the community it provides a very loyal customer base with the business benefiting from consistent turnover and strong profit margins. With the exceptional owners accommodation and grounds included, this offers any new operator the chance to take over a well performing business that supports their new lifestyle.

We recommend viewing this business and property to appreciate the opportunity in full.

The business is ran by our clients on a daily basis supported by part-time staff. Further information can be made available to interested parties.

Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) will apply to any remaining staff.

Trading information shows turnover to have increased yearly since 2019. Turnover for year ending 31st October 2021 is £544,232 producing a strong gross margin of 24% and healthy profits.

Full trading profit and loss accounts will be available post viewing stage and on request.

Monday to Saturday
8.00am - 6.00pm

Sunday
10.00am - 2.00pm

Offered to the market on a freehold basis at an asking price of £650,000

Stock at valuation at date of entry.

Application for Post Office to be completed by purchaser.

The current Rateable Value is £3,800 (As of April 2017) and therefore qualifies for 100% relief via The Small Business Bonus Scheme. This is subject to status and all interested parties are advised to check with the relevant Local Authority.

Alcohol License