Betty Cottles, Tavistock Road, Okehampton, Devon

The Betty Cottles Inn is a substantial and exceptionally spacious detached destination public house, restaurant and hotel, which is available by way of a new Free of Tie lease. With origins reputedly dating back to the 17th Century this attractive property has been substantial extended and renovated during our clients 35 years of ownership and is equipped and virtually ready to trade. The property currently offers 12 Letting Bedrooms, an attractive Lounge Bar (20), an impressive Main Restaurant with two Conservatory Dining Areas (80), a Family/Games Room (20) with a Secondary Bar Area, a Breakfast Room/Overflow Restaurant, a well-equipped Commercial Catering Kitchen with extensive Ancillary Facilities, Spacious Family Sized 3 Ensuite Bedroom Owner’s Apartment with a large Sitting Room and a Kitchen. Separate Managers One Bedroom Flat. Externally, the property offers Customer Car Parking for around 40 vehicles, a Children’s Play Area and Trade Gardens and Patio Seating Areas with views towards Dartmoor providing al fresco seating for around 60 customers and a Smoking Shelter. An internal inspection is recommended in order to fully appreciate all that this deceptively spacious Free of Tie business has to offer.

SITUATION
The Betty Cottles Inn is situated just off the A30 main road on the outskirts of Okehampton on the northern edge of Dartmoor National Park. Occupying a prominent and landmark trading position alongside the B3260, Betty Cottles Inn offers views towards Dartmoor and Meldon viaduct. The property is located around a mile from the important and historic town of Okehampton which serves a large rural area and benefits from holiday trade throughout the year. The adjacent Meldon Lodge Holiday Park brings customers to the inn throughout the year. Local attractions include Meldon Reservoir, Meldon Viaduct, the Granite Way National Cycle Trail, Bluebell Woods and the immediate area is renowned for its sporting and leisure opportunities such as hiking, walking, cycling and horse riding. Access to the A30 dual carriageway, Exeter is approximately 22 miles, Launceston approximately 19 miles, and Plymouth approximately 26 miles.

INTERNAL DETAILS
Main Customer Entrance from the car park with a Separate Hotel Reception Entrance and Office Area. Through into Main Lounge Bar Area an attractive and impressive room with exposed vaulted ceilings, open fireplace with inset woodburning stove, part-wood panelled walls, wall mounted menu boards, a comfortable and pleasant seating area with various sofas and armchairs seating around 20 customers plus adequate standing room. Impressive, polished wood fronted and topped Bar Servery with a range of associated back bar fittings and extensive display shelving, nonslip flooring, 3 double glass fronted bottle fridges, a single glass fronted bottle fridge, commercial coffee machine and a coffee grinder. Steps up to The Meldon Room an impressive and spacious restaurant area with exposed vaulted ceiling and a carvery unit, 2 Conservatory Dining Areas leading off. These attractive and well-presented areas comfortably seat 80 customers. Family/Games Room with a darts oche, a pool table and a feature fireplace with inset multi-fuel burner and seating for 20 customers and a secondary occasional bar servery area which can also serve Breakfast Room/Overflow Restaurant a flexible room used as a resident’s breakfast room, overflow restaurant area and for small functions and meetings. Ladies, Gents & Disabled WCs. Commercial Catering Kitchen with nonslip flooring and part clad walls, refurbished to a high standard and fitted with a comprehensive range of commercial catering equipment to include:- 6-burner range, extractor system with stainless steel canopy over and gas interlock, 2 Rational ovens, 2 deep fat fryers, salamander grill, under counter stainless steel fridge units, microwaves and a Walk-In Chiller. Freezer/Preparation Room. Washup Area with a commercial pass-through dishwasher with tray slide. Dry Food Store. Beer Cellar.

LETTING ACCOMMODATION
The business currently offers 12 letting bedrooms, numbers 4 to 7 are in the main property and briefly comprise: - Bedroom 4 a standard double room. Bedroom 5 a standard double room. Bedroom 6 a standard single room. Bedroom 7 a standard single room. Bathroom for the shared use of bedrooms, 4, 5, 6 and 7. The remaining 8 bedrooms are in a detached purpose-built annexe building The Meldon Suite Rooms on the opposite side of the car park, and which briefly comprises: - Bedroom 8 a disability friendly family room (3) with En-Suite Disability Friendly Shower Room. Bedroom 9 a single room with Private Shower Room. Bedroom 10 a single room with En-Suite Shower Room. Bedroom 11 a family room (3) with En-Suite Shower Room. Bedroom 12 a family room (3) with En-Suite Shower Room. Bedroom 13 a double room with En-Suite Shower Room. Bedroom 14 a double room with En-Suite Shower Room. Bedroom 15 a family room (3) with En-Suite Bathroom and Separate Shower Cubicle. Sauna Room. Housekeeper Room/Laundry. Kitchen.

OWNERS ACCOMMODATION
Situated on the first floor of the main building is the spacious family sized owner’s accommodation, which could be easily reconfigured to provide additional letting accommodation, dependant on personal requirements, and briefly comprises: - a large Sitting Room with a triple aspect. Kitchen. Bedroom 1 a double room with an En-Suite Shower Room. Bedroom 2 a twin/single room with an En-Suite Shower Room. Bedroom 3 a double room with an En-Suite Shower Room. Within the annexe building is a Self-Contained Flat which comprises: - Sitting Room, Kitchenette, a Double Bedroom Area and an En-Suite Shower Room.

EXTERNAL DETAILS
Betty Cottles Inn occupies a prominent roadside landmark trading position. The substantial plot incorporates a Large Customer Car Park with marked spaces for circa 40 vehicles. There are lawned Trade Gardens to the rear of the property incorporating a Children’s Play Area and Patio Terrace Seating Areas to the front and side of the property. In total there is currently al fresco seating for around 60 customers. Wooden Smoking Shelter.

TRADING STYLE
The Betty Cottles Inn has traded as a destination country pub and restaurant with letting bedrooms located on the edge of Dartmoor National Park close to Meldon Reservoir. The business serves the nearby town of Okehampton as well as the surrounding villages, hamlets and towns in the area and its position close to the busy A30 main road ensures that the business also attracts tourist trade, not only in the summer months, but throughout the year. Our clients have owned Betty Cottles Inn for 35 years and during this time they have extensively refurbished and enhanced the property to high standards throughout. The business closed unexpectedly in December 2025 and it now provides a blank canvas opportunity to purchase a fully equipped trading environment with a comprehensive trade inventory of fixtures and fittings. Betty Cottles Inn represents an excellent opportunity to re-establish this all-round hospitality business which has benefited from a broad customer base and was also a popular venue for functions and parties. The letting accommodation attracted both leisure and commercial travellers alike and the Inn was also used as a meeting place by various clubs and associations. There was also a regular carvery which proved extremely popular. It offers tremendous potential for hands on owner operators and Betty Cottles Inn represents an excellent opportunity to purchase a versatile and impressive country inn and restaurant with letting accommodation and spacious and flexible owners’ accommodation. Betty Cottles Inn is undoubtedly a very special place to live and work and a formal viewing is essential in order to fully appreciate all that this multi-faceted business opportunity has to offer. Available by way of a new FREE OF TIE lease.

TRADING INFORMATION
Historic takings information for the year ending 31 March 2022 shows sales of £349,028 including VAT. Further historic accounts show sales of £520,382 excluding VAT. The split of trade was 37% food sales, 35% wet sales, 28% accommodation sales. Limited trading information may be made available to interested parties following a formal viewing appointment.

EPC
D – 78.

SERVICES
Main electric and water are connected, there is a private drainage and LPG is used for central heating and cooking.

TENURE
Betty Cottles Inn is being offered by way of a new 7 year FREE OF TIE lease, on full repairing and insuring terms. The proposed guide rent is £36,000 in year one, £38,000 in year two and £40,000 in year three. Detailed terms are to be agreed, please contact us for more information.