Established cafe, located in affluent North Norfolk market town. Holt, Norfolk.

BUSINESS SALE - Well-established café business in the popular North Norfolk market town of Holt, offering over 40 internal covers, additional courtyard seating and clear potential for growth through extended trading hours and events.

The Wandering Whelk, Holt.
Paul Hubbard Commercial are pleased to present an opportunity to acquire a well-established café business located in the popular North Norfolk market town of Holt.

The Wandering Whelk has been trading since 2019 and occupies a characterful two-storey premises in Chapel Yard, just off Albert Street, benefiting from strong year-round trade driven by both tourism and a loyal local customer base. The business is offered for sale with all fixtures and fittings included (with the exception of the coffee machine), presenting a genuine turnkey opportunity for an incoming operator.

The premises extend to approximately 1,116 sq ft (103.6 sq m) arranged over two floors. The ground floor provides a main seating and dining area measuring approximately 16’3” x 14’8” together with a retail/service area of approximately 24’9” x 15’1”, and a fully fitted commercial kitchen measuring approximately 14’8” x 8’6”. The first floor provides further customer seating and dining space measuring approximately 15’1” x 12’9”, along with storage and customer WC facilities. The business currently accommodates over 40 covers internally, with scope to increase this if the retail area were adapted.

Externally, the café also benefits from access to a recently renovated courtyard area capable of providing a further 20–30 covers during the warmer months. The courtyard has recently undergone a significant improvement project funded through government grants and collaboration between local businesses, landlords and the council, aimed at enhancing the area and increasing footfall to this part of the town.

The café currently trades during daytime hours only (generally between 10am and 3pm, with slightly extended hours on Saturdays) and is operated by a small team of six part-time staff. There is clear scope for growth through extending trading hours, introducing evening service or private events, and potentially applying for an alcohol licence, none of which are currently in place. This makes the business particularly well suited to an owner-operator, couple or family looking for a lifestyle business with further potential.

The premises are held on a 9-year lease from 2019 at a current rent of £15,600 per annum, with the landlord willing to discuss terms for a new lease if required. The courtyard area is rented separately at approximately £150 per month on a flexible arrangement. Accounts and further trading information are available to genuinely interested parties. The business is offered for sale at an asking price of £50,000 for the goodwill, fixtures and fittings.

All legal costs associated with the transaction are to be covered by the purchaser.