Closed freehold fish & chip shop, central Ashbourne

Key features

• Freehold premises in a tourist-magnet Derbyshire market town
• Fitted out eight years ago at over £80,000
• Three-pan Island range that cost around £30,000
• Directly opposite a car park hosting a Saturday market
• Closed for five years — genuine sale on health grounds

About this business

A freehold fish & chip takeaway in the heart of Ashbourne, a picturesque Derbyshire Dales market town that pulls in tourists year-round on top of its own resident population. The shop was converted and fitted out from scratch eight years ago at a cost of more than £80,000, but has sat closed for the past five years while the vendor's health has prevented him from re-opening. For a capable operator willing to re-establish trade in a position the vendor describes as unique, the groundwork is already done.

Trading figures

The shop has not traded for the past five years, so there are no current takings to quote. The vendor's case is that the town-centre location attracts thousands of visitors throughout the year and is capable of very high sales once trade is re-established. He has wanted to re-open over the last five years but ongoing health problems have prevented him from doing so.

Trading hours

Previously traded — Monday to Friday: 11.30am – 2.30pm and 4.00pm – 9.00pm. Saturday: 11.30am – 9.00pm. Sunday: 12.00 noon – 8.00pm. We understand the shop can trade up to 11.00pm.

Business premises

An end-terrace freehold property converted into a fish & chip shop eight years ago at a cost in excess of £80,000 — a standard that's evident on inspection. The frontage is Georgian double-fronted with a few steps up to twin central doors, a hand-painted lit fascia above and a matching swing sign, with some outside seating in front. Inside, the shop is tastefully styled in easy-to-maintain two-tone clad walls, non-slip flooring, inset lighting and a full-width stainless-steel service counter. The three-pan Island range backs onto a cooking section under an overhead extractor, with side access through to a passageway leading to the front of the shop. To the rear are general preparation facilities with access to a shared yard, plus a large basement used for storage. A first-class unit requiring no additional expenditure.

Trade equipment

The headline item is a three-pan Island range with built-in bain-marie that cost in the region of £30,000 — the bulk of the equipment value on its own. Most of the rest of the kit was bought new at the same time eight years ago and has hardly been used given the long closure: digital till, drink cabinet, under-counter fridges and freezer, two kebab machines, two microwave ovens, a commercial gas cooker, plus a 'Bold' chipper and peeler.

Trading position

Set in a picturesque market town full of historic Georgian and Tudor buildings, popular with tourists visiting the Derbyshire Dales and supported by a good-sized local population. The shop sits directly opposite a car park that hosts a Saturday market and other events, with pubs and bars on the surrounding streets — a combination of tourist footfall, market-day trade and evening drinkers all on the doorstep. A position the vendor maintains has to be seen to be appreciated.

Special remarks

A genuine sale on health grounds: the vendor fitted the shop out eight years ago at over £80,000 and has been unable to trade for the last five years due to serious health difficulties. The premises and equipment are in place, the freehold is on the table at £265,000, and the trading position — directly opposite the car park and Saturday market in a tourist town — is the asset the vendor wants buyers to come and see for themselves. For a capable operator looking to re-establish trade in a ready-fitted shop, the upside is there to be taken.