C & S MONKS THE POST OFFICE, MAIN STREET, PORT CHARLOTTE, ISLE OF ISLAY, PA48 7TL GUIDE PRICE 330,000 + SAV Freehold REF. 1052
Lifestyle business available for sale with 3 bedroomed owners accommodation available on the wonderful Inner Hebrides Isle of Islay. Shop, Post Office & Filling Station Located in Port Charlotte on Isle of Islay 3 bed owners accommodation with spectacular views Very profitable owner operator business Same ownership for over 29 years Short trading hours to suit current owners Unique business opportunity in stunning location SITUATION This outstanding business opportunity is located in Post Charlotte, arguably the best preserved and most attractive village on the Isle of Islay. Founded in 1828 by Walter Frederick Campbell, the village was named after his mother with its first distillery opening just a year later in 1829. Port Charlotte is located on the west side of the Island with stunning views over Loch Indaal towards Bowmore and the south-east over Laggan Bay towards the island s airport. Islay itself is the southern most of the Inner Hebrides islands located off the west coast of Scotland close to the neighbouring island of Jura. Known as the Queen of the Hebrides, Islay is the 5th largest Scottish island and lies just 25 miles north of the Irish coast which can be seen on clear days. Islay is probably best known for its connection to the Malt Whisky industry with many distilleries located here with the popular Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig best known for their strong peaty flavour. Other distilleries such as Bowmore, Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain are also located here and produce malts which are substantially lighter in taste. The population of the island is thought to be in the region of 3,000 with around 55,000 visitors arriving each year on the frequent ferry services and by air. The ferry takes around 2 hours from Kennacraig on the mainland whilst a flight from Glasgow airport takes approximately 35 minutes. THE PROPERTY The subjects are a semi-detached traditional stone built property with a business formed over the ground floor and living accommodation formed over the first floor. The property, along with the majority of the buildings in the village, are painted a striking white colour with prominent blue paint used around the doors and windows. There is also a lower ground floor which is used for storage for the business along with a garage and potting shed. A single petrol pump offering diesel and unleaded fuel is positioned to the right hand side of the property. INTERNAL DETAILS The shop is laid out in a traditional style with the main sales counter positioned to the right hand side on entering where Post Office services are also offered from. There is a selection of refrigeration cabinets and chest freezers along with perimeter wall shelving and greeting cards display stands. Carpet tiles are under foot with strip lighting overhead. ANCILLARY AREAS There is a good sized storeroom located on the lower ground floor. OWNERS ACCOMMODATION The owners accommodation is predominantly formed over the first floor level with only the kitchen located on the ground floor. The first floor comprises a lounge with stunning views over Loch Indaal towards Northern Island, office, three good sized bedrooms and family bathroom. There is scope to add an ensuite to the master bedroom should a new owner require this option. The property benefits from oil fired central heating throughout with a nice sized garden and patio area to the rear again with views over the loch.
THE BUSINESS Our clients have owned and operated C & S Monks Shop, Post Office & Filling Station for over 29 years and have only placed the business on the market to allow them to relocate to the mainland to be closer to family. Trading as a traditional convenience store and newsagency which caters for the needs of locals as well as the many visitors to the area. It offers a good range of post office services along with its fuel offering of both diesel and unleaded petrol. There is also an instore bakery facility that proves popular with locals and visitors. Operating as a community Post Office, the income from this is around 1,000 a month. Any new owner would need acceptance by the Post Office Ltd to take over this part of the business. The convenience store and fuel sides of the business generates a good turnover with excellent profit margins. The Isle of Islay continues to be a desirable destination both for holidaymakers and for those looking for a holiday home to own on the island. With further developments planned for each of Islay s distilleries over the next few years along with the opening of the renovated Machrie Hotel and Golf Course, it is expected the already 4% rise in tourist numbers being experienced each year is only going to increase. SUMMARY A lifestyle opportunity is often an overused description when businesses are placed on the market but in the C & S Monks Shop, Post Office & Filling Station, this is genuinely a lifestyle business opportunity. The current owners trade what would be considered as shorter than normal business hours whilst also taking an hour for lunch each day. The views from the property must be seen to be believed and to top things off the business is also very profitable. ACCOUNTS Full trading profit and loss accounts will be made available to interested parties only after formally viewing the business. For further information please contact the selling agent. OPENING HOURS Monday to Saturday 9.00am to 5.30pm (closed for lunch 1.00pm-2.00pm) Sunday (summer) Noon to 2pm Sunday (winter) 4.00pm to 5.30pm STAFF The business is currently run by the two owners with the assistance of one part-time member of staff. RATEABLE VALUE 3,800. SERVICES We are advised that all mains services are connected. TENURE Freehold. PRICE The asking price is 330,000 to represent the heritable property, goodwill of the business and fixtures & fittings. VIEWING Strictly by appointment via the sole selling agents Cornerstone Business Agents. Phone 0131 445 7222 or email info@cornerstoneagents.co.uk. OFFERS All offers couched in Scottish legal terms should be submitted to the sole selling agents. Cornerstone Business Agents The Walled Garden, Bush Estate, Midlothian, EH26 0SD Phone 0131 445 7222 Fax 0131 445 4300 E mail info@cornerstoneagents.co.uk www.cornerstoneba.co.uk
IMPORTANT NOTES RE. THIS BUSINESS Sales Particulars & Web Listings Please note any information contained in sales particulars or web listings for businesses being marketed by Cornerstone Business Agents is intended for general guidance only and should not be taken as statements of fact. Prospective purchasers should always seek independent professional advice before committing to purchasing a business. Viewing Appointments Whilst it is a good idea to visit a business that is being marketed for sale as a customer before making a formal viewing, it is vitally important that such visits are carried out confidentially and that no approach is made to the staff, owners or customers of the business. Many businesses are being marketed confidentially and the staff and locals may not know that the business is on the market, therefore a casual approach can adversely affect the business. Formal viewing appointments should always be made via Cornerstone Business Agents by calling 0131 445 7222 or completing our viewing request form. If you wish to cancel an appointment or will be delayed please inform Cornerstone as soon as possible. During out of office hours please call the business direct - however only speak to the person to whom your appointment is with. Please drop us an email at info@cornerstoneagents.co.uk or give us a call on 0131 445 7222 after you have viewed to let us have your thoughts and feedback on the business you have viewed. Trading Figures & Accounts As sales particulars are readily available to be downloaded from the internet it is rare that confidential trading figures are included in sales particulars. For reasons of confidentiality accounts are in most cases only available after a formal viewing. We understand that this can cause problems as it is pointless viewing a business that is not affordable. We therefore suggest that you call Cornerstone and ask for the agent handling the sale who will give guidance on trading levels and profitability before you view. Business Finance There are a wide range of funding options available to assist with a business purchase. Cornerstone work with a wide range of lenders and commercial finance brokers to ensure that purchasers of our clients businesses obtain the most advantageous funding facilities available. Please contact us if you would like to discuss business finance options with one of our independent specialists. We strongly advise that business purchasers discuss funding criteria with a specialist broker at an early stage. Discussing funding criteria with a single lender is unlikely to result in the best funding solution being found. Please call 0131 445 7222 to speak to one of our finance specialists. Legal Aspects of Buying a Business in Scotland You will need to instruct a Scottish solicitor to act on your behalf when buying a business in Scotland. Scottish law differs from English law. It is important to instruct a solicitor who is experienced in buying the type of business you are considering. Cornerstone offer a list of solicitors that we can recommend. Please drop us an email to info@cornerstoneba.co.uk for more information. www.cornerstoneba.co.uk