£245,000 price tag as Shropshire pub for sale

A landmark Shropshire pub which shut its doors last September has been put on the market for £245,000.

The Bottle and Glass in Picklescott, near Church Stretton, is up for sale with agents Hinson Parry.

The gastro-pub shut its doors last year despite frequently winning rave reviews for its food, with landlady Paula Gurney blaming a slump in trade on rising fuel costs and the economic crisis.

But the Grade II listed building may get a new lease of life with new owners being sought for the pub.

A spokesman for Staffordshire-based Hinson Parry said that the English country inn was in an excellent location, close to the Long Mynd and within the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Beauty.

"It is an area renowned for spectacular scenery which explains its popularity for walking, horse riding and a wide range of outdoor activities.

"The Bottle & Glass, which traded until September 2011, had a reputation for good food and well kept traditional ales," he said.

"The building itself was originally a farmhouse and was first licensed as an ale house in 1837."

The building has been extended to include three letting bedrooms, in addition to the one-bedroomed owners flat, together with two bars, restaurant and kitchen.

Mrs Gurney said last year that the difficulties caused by the current economic climate hit trade, especially in regard to the sale of food.

She took over the pub after moving to Shropshire from Oxfordshire in 2008.

Mrs Gurney said that rising fuel costs meant fewer people were willing to travel to the site.

"I have come to a decision to close the business based on a lack of trading – it is hitting the hospitality industry and small pubs like mine which rely on selling food really hard," she said.

"Our trade has dropped because people are not travelling so far due to the rising cost of fuel."

By Chris Burn