The Dolphin, Peacemarsh, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8

The Dolphin is an attractive stone built character freehouse with origins reputedly dating back to the 1830's. This detached character property occupies a prominent trading position and has been refurbished to a high standard in recent years. Consequently, the business is extremely well presented throughout and this well appointed and well regarded free of tie inn briefly comprises:- Main Bar (17+) with fireplace, Restaurant (24+) with fireplace, Dining Room (25+), well equipped Commercial Catering Kitchen with extensive back up facilities, well presented family sized 3 Double Bedroom Owner's Accommodation with Sitting Room and Shower Room. Externally, a real feature of this business is the stunning Beer Garden incorporating patio and lawned areas and providing alfresco seating for 120+ customers with a feature Outside Bar/Kitchen. There is also an Owner's Private Garden with lawn and patio areas and Customer Car Parking with space for 30 vehicles. A viewing is strongly recommended in order to appreciate all that this superior, manageable, and most profitable free of tie public house has to offer.

SITUATION
The Dolphin occupies a prominent and landmark trading position adjacent to the B3092, in a popular residential area on the northern outskirts of the sought after and growing Dorset town of Gillingham. Gillingham is the most northerly town in Dorset and is a busy and growing market town situated between Sherborne and Shaftesbury and is approximately 4 miles from the A303 which links the South West and the M3 to London. Yeovil is within 25 miles and Salisbury is around 29 miles. Gillingham has a population of around 11,000 and has a thriving business community and offers services to cater for most everyday requirements with Waitrose, Asda, Lidl and Aldi supermarkets, 3 primary schools, and a well regarded state secondary school. The town also has a mainline railway station with connections to London Waterloo (2 hours) and the South West.

INTERNAL DETAILS
Customer entrance door to the front into an Entrance Vestibule with door into the main trade areas. Main Bar Area a traditional bar area with carpeted flooring, feature exposed brick fireplace with inset wood burner, feature lighting and freestanding wooden tables, cushioned window seating and upholstered wooden chairs comfortably seating 17 customers plus adequate standing room. Timber fronted and polished timber topped Bar Servery fitted with associated back bar fittings and extensive display shelving with non-slip flooring, open shelving, 2 double glass fronted bottle fridges, EPOS touch screen cash register, commercial glasswasher and a stainless steel hand basin. Restaurant an attractive character room with carpeted flooring, painted wood panelled ceiling, painted part wood panelled walls, feature lighting, brick fireplace with open fire, darts oche area, range of freestanding wooden tables and upholstered wooden chairs comfortably seating 24+ customers. Dining Room another attractive seating area with exposed ceiling and wall timbers, painted part wood panelled walls, feature lighting, door to the trade gardens and car park, range of freestanding wooden tables and upholstered wooden chairs comfortably seating 25+ customers. Ladies & Gents WC's. Commercial Catering Kitchen with non-slip flooring and part stainless steel clad walls and fitted with a comprehensive range of commercial catering equipment to include:- extraction system with stainless steel canopy, gas interlock system, 6 burner gas range, extensive range of stainless steel workbenches with shelving below, twin table top deep fat fryer, 2 commercial microwave ovens, stainless steel shelving, warming cabinet, serving gantry with warming lamps, 3 door under counter commercial fridge unit, 2 door under counter commercial fridge unit, hand basin, and 2 upright commercial fridges. Wash Up/Food Preparation Room with non-slip flooring, part tiled walls, twin deep bowl stainless steel sink, commercial dishwasher, washing machine, work surfaces with open shelved storage below, stainless steel sink unit, under counter fridge, under counter freezer, stainless steel shelving, chest freezer, upright freezer and door to the rear. Beer Cellar temperature controlled with extensive wine racking, Belfast sink, stillage and service door. Dry Goods Store shelved with delivery door to the side.

OWNER'S ACCOMMODATION
The well presented family sized owner's accommodation is situated on the first floor and briefly comprises:- Sitting Room with stripped wooden flooring, aspect to the front and built in alcove storage cupboards with shelving over. Bedroom 1 a good sized double bedroom with aspect to the front, built in wardrobes and an adjoining Office/Dressing Room. Bedroom 2 a double bedroom with aspect to the front and built in wardrobes.
Bedroom 3 a double bedroom with aspect to the front and a shelved alcove. Shower Room with a modern white suite and a large walk in shower.

EXTERNAL DETAILS
With visible signage, from the road the business benefits from a gated entrance leading to the Customer Car Park directly in front of the pub with space for around 30 vehicles. There is also a Smoking Shelter and bench seating for around 18 customers. Adjacent to the car park and a real feature of this business is the attractive and impressive Beer Garden and Terrace Areas incorporating patio, gravelled and lawned seating areas with mature trees, shrubs and flowerbed borders, wooden planters and a gazebo. A brick built Pizza Oven with a feature Horsebox Kitchen/Bar Area providing alfresco dining and drinking options during the summer with patio tables, chairs and benches providing seating for 102+ customers. There is also an Owner's Private Garden Area being fully enclosed with gravelled, lawned and patio areas. A Timber Storage Shed provides a dry goods store with shelving and 2 chest freezers.

THE BUSINESS
The Dolphin is a popular FREE OF TIE Dorset pub and restaurant which is presented to an extremely high standard throughout. Described by our clients as having the feel of a country pub, this family run freehouse enjoys an excellent reputation offering an extensive range of lagers, real ales, and ciders on draft combined with freshly prepared homemade food. The Dolphin enjoys a popular local following and has a strong year round regular trade, not only from Gillingham, but also from the surrounding villages, hamlets and towns. The pub has its own website which provides further background on the business, and it also benefits from numerous 5 star reviews on Google. This is an extremely well presented business which benefits from impressive and consistent year round trade and has been run by our clients for 6 years. The sale of The Dolphin represents an excellent opportunity to purchase a well regarded FREE OF TIE pub and restaurant with family sized owner's accommodation in a sought after and growing Dorset town. The Dolphin is undoubtedly a very special place in which to live and work and a viewing is essential in order to fully appreciate all that this profitable high quality business and property has to offer.

TRADING INFORMATION
Sales for the year ending 31 March 2025 show sales of £225,479 excluding VAT from deliberately restricted opening hours. Approximate trade split of 60% wet sales and 40% food sales. The business boasts excellent profits and accounts can be made available to interested parties following a formal viewing appointment.

OPENING HOURS
The Dolphin trades from 5.30pm until 10pm on Wednesday and Thursday, from 12pm until 3pm and 5pm until 10.30pm on Friday, from 12pm until 10.30pm on Saturday and from 12pm until 7pm on Sunday. Through choice the business is closed all day on Monday and Tuesday and on Wednesday and Thursday during the daytime.

CURRENT STAFFING
The business is run by our clients, a husband and wife team, with the assistance of a full time chef and 3 part time assistants.

POTENTIAL
Our clients advise that there is potential to develop all aspects of the trade still further and to build on the solid trade levels being achieved, with particular opportunities to increase the current trading hours, and also to introduce all day opening with opportunities to serve food all day, particularly at weekends and in the summer months.

SERVICES
All mains services are connected.

PRICE & TENURE
£75,000 for the valuable FREE OF TIE leasehold interest as a going concern business and full trade inventory. Wet and dry stocks to be additional at valuation. We are advised that The Dolphin is held on a fully renewable 10 year private FREE OF TIE lease which commenced in January 2019. The lease is full repairing and insuring with a current rent of £20,000 per annum plus VAT payable monthly in advance. Rent reviews are every 3 years. Full details of the lease are available upon request.

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