The Bakehouse Cafe, High Street, Cullompton, Devon, EX15

THE PROPERTY
The Bakehouse is an extremely impressive and well-presented licensed café bar and bistro which has been trading since 2013 and in our clients' ownership for the past 7 years. This thriving, well-regarded and most profitable business is presented to an exceptionally high standard throughout and has benefitted from considerable on-going investment and expenditure by our clients during their ownership. Consequently, the business provides a superior working environment which is exceptionally well equipped. The sale of The Bakehouse represents a fantastic opportunity to purchase an extremely profitable and highly desirable catering business trading on predominantly daytime hours. The character premises offer a blend of character features combined with comfortable furnishings and décor, being purpose equipped and fitted to a high standard throughout. The business briefly comprises: - attractive ground floor Main Cafe Bar Area comfortably seating 34+ covers with Central Island Customer Servery; Snug Area seating 4 customers; impressive Dining Room comfortably seating 26+ covers; fully equipped Commercial Catering Kitchen with Extensive Ancillary and Welfare Facilities. Outside Seating for 4 customers. This is a unique opportunity to purchase a renowned high turnover catering business, with particularly impressive profits, which is predominantly staff run. A viewing is strongly recommended to fully appreciate all aspects of this established and well-regarded business opportunity and the potential which it offers owner operators or investors; the likes of which is rarely seen with a business of this nature. There are also undoubted opportunities and potential for incoming operators to develop their own style of trade to suit their own personal requirements, and to take advantage of the prime town centre trading position.

SITUATION
The property occupies a prominent and visible position in the main High Street, with off street parking nearby. Situated within the centre of the popular and thriving market town of Cullompton, a historic and expanding market town which is ideally positioned for access to the M5 (J28) and sits on the edge of beautiful rolling Devon countryside in close proximity to the towns of Tiverton, Wellington and Honiton. Cullompton is approximately 13 miles from the city of Exeter and 19 miles to Taunton. Cullompton has seen substantial residential expansion in the last few years, which is still ongoing, and which brings additional trade to The Bakehouse. The easy access from the M5 also attracts tourists and passers-by to the business.

INTERNAL DETAILS
Glazed feature double frontage with glazed recessed central entrance door leading into; Main Cafe Seating Area & Customer Servery an attractive character room with feature original marble shelving, tiled flooring, part exposed ceiling timbers, part exposed brick and timber walls, wall mounted menu boards, upright glass fronted drinks fridge, range of freestanding wooden tables, upholstered wooden chairs, perimeter plinth seating with stools seating 34+ customers. Central Island Customer Servery Area with timber fronts and solid wood topped serve over counter, cake display area, feature lighting, EPOS touch screen cash register with printer link to the kitchen and 2 hand held tablets for ordering, display shelving, open storage shelving below the counter, stainless steel sink, Rancilio commercial coffee machine, coffee grinder, Lincat hot water boiler, smoothie maker, under counter fridge, under counter wine fridge, and commercial glass washer. Snug with stripped wood flooring, part wood panelled walls and two sofas comfortably seating 4 customers. Dining Room an attractive character room with vaulted ceiling and exposed ceiling timbers, part exposed brick walls, stripped wood flooring, feature wood burning stove, wall mounted menu boards, door to outside courtyard area, range of freestanding wooden tables and upholstered wooden chairs comfortably seating 26+ customers. Ladies, Gents and Disabled WC's. Commercial Catering Kitchen with non-slip flooring, part tiled walls, fitted to a high standard with a comprehensive range of commercial catering equipment to include;- extraction unit with stainless steel canopy and gas interlock system, 6 burner gas range, twin table top deep fat fryer, contact grill, stainless steel work benches with shelving below, twin deck commercial pizza oven, bain-marie, stainless steel shelving, 2 three door commercial under counter fridge units, one with saladette over. Wash Up Area with tiled flooring and part tiled walls, commercial dishwasher, commercial microwave oven, stainless steel workbenches with shelving below, stainless steel deep bowl sink unit, handbasin, wall cupboards, shelving, upright freezer and stainless-steel racked shelving unit. Preparation Kitchen with tiled flooring and a further range of commercial catering equipment to include:- double upright commercial freezer, double upright commercial fridge, 2 single upright commercial fridges, commercial mixer, 2 electric ovens, range of base kitchen units, work surfaces, shelving, commercial microwave oven, handbasin, stainless steel sink unit and extensive stainless steel racked shelving units. Office. Staff Changing Room/WC/Utility Room with stainless steel racked shelving, washing machine and tumble dryer.

EXTERNAL DETAILS
Enclosed Courtyard Garden with seating for 4 customers. Bin Store Area.

THE BUSINESS
The Bakehouse is a busy licensed cafe bar and bistro set within a character property, in a town centre High Street trading location. This busy independent cafe bar enjoys excellent levels of regular repeat trade and boasts an impressive local following, not only from Cullompton but from the local surrounding villages and towns, together with a year-round boost from visitors and tourists to the area and passing by. Well-presented throughout and extremely well equipped, The Bakehouse is an exceptionally profitable high turnover business which trades on a predominantly daytime basis and opens for breakfast, morning coffee, lunches and for evening meals and drinks on Friday and Saturday. All food is freshly prepared on the premises using local produce and suppliers wherever possible and the business also benefits from takeaway trade. The business benefits from numerous excellent reviews on Google, a Travellers Choice Award from Tripadvisor (currently number 1 of 50 restaurants in Cullompton), as well as various industry awards and accolades It has been awarded a 5-star food hygiene rating and The Bakehouse has its own website which provides a further overview of the business and menus etc. The business has been owned by our clients since 2018, and they have significantly invested in the business during their ownership. Consequently, the business and property are presented in first class order throughout. The business is run with a full team in place and our clients have greatly reduced their involvement in the running of the business during the last few years, with semi-retirement and alternative career opportunities in mind. The sale of The Bakehouse represents an excellent opportunity to purchase an exceptionally profitable and highly successful catering business and new owners will benefit from being able to move in without the need for any major expenditure. An early appointment to view is highly recommended in order to fully appreciate all that this impressive high turnover business has to offer.

TRADING INFORMATION
Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2025 show sales of £476,990 excluding VAT with a gross profit of £326,508 (68.5%) and a net profit of £73,139. Full detailed trading information can be made available to interested parties following a formal viewing appointment.

CURRENT STAFFING
Owned by our clients, a husband-and-wife partnership, with one not involved in the day to day running of the business. The other concentrates mainly on the paperwork side of the business, as well as covering for holidays/illness as necessary. The cafe is run with a full team of staff in place to include 3 full time chefs, 3 full time front of house staff, 2 part time chefs, and 6 further part time/casual members of staff covering various roles.

TRANSFER OF A GOING CONCERN
The sale of this business includes the goodwill of the business and trade inventory and will be subject to Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations (TUPE).

POTENTIAL
The sale of The Bakehouse provides an excellent opportunity to purchase a thriving and well-regarded catering business which is extremely profitable, and which offers potential to increase the current high turnover levels still further. There are opportunities to increase the opening hours, promote the takeaway offering, offering buffets and outside catering, for which demand exists. The sale of The Bakehouse represents a rare opportunity to purchase a fully equipped, high quality licensed cafe bar business which has a full complement of experienced staff in place and offers new owners the ability to move in and start trading without the need for any major expenditure.

EPC
B - 37.

BUSINESS RATES
We are advised that the business rates payable are currently nil after 100% business rates relief. For up-to-date Business Rates information relating to this property, we refer you to The Valuation Office website
All mains services are connected.

PRICE & TENURE
£165,000 for the valuable leasehold interest as a going concern business and full trade inventory. Wet and dry stocks at valuation. Vacant possession upon completion. The business is available by way of a new 7-year internal repairing and insuring lease, at a commencing rent of £13,740 per annum (£1,145 per month).