Southsea pub starts 2012 with new owners
LANDLORD Jonathan McKerracher with some of his real ales. Picture: Sarah Standing (110627-4513)
MANY would think buying a pub would be a risky venture these days.
But Jonathan and Kerry McKerracher don’t think so.
They have now bought the freehold to the Hole in the Wall pub in Great Southsea Street, Southsea.
Previous owners R&L Properties No 6 originally asked Jonathan and Kerry for an extra £7,000 on top of their yearly rental fees back in the summer.
Realising it would be cheaper to mortgage the pub themselves, they set about filing the paperwork and sealing the deal.
As certified freehold licence holders, the couple can decide what beers they want to sell and have complete ownership of the building they run on a day-to-day basis.
And its good news for punters because the newly-crowned licence holders have pledged their beer prices won’t be going up in the foreseeable future.
Jonathan, 41, said: ‘We bought the freehold because it worked out cheaper than our yearly rent charges.
‘What the company was asking for was far too much.
‘If we had accepted it then that would have had a knock-on affect with our customers.
‘We would have had to put everything up just to cover the costs.
‘All in all it’s great news because it means our beer prices won’t go up.
‘It also sends out a sign to our real ale drinkers that we aren’t going to be closing up any time soon.
‘It’s safe to say we’re in it for the long term.’
The pub plans to hold its sixth annual beer festival next year.
The week-long event, which will be held in October, encourages people to swap their lagers and spirits for a real ale.
More than 50 real ales will be offered on rotation.
The pub is also a rare outlet for the famous Grandma’s Weapons Grade Ginger Beer from Cornwall’s Wheal Maiden Brewery.
Jonathan said: ‘We love what we do and its exciting to see our business growing all the time.
‘We do a fantastic selection of ales from around the country.
‘We’re soon planning on ordering in pallets holding 18 barrels of ales that you wouldn’t see anywhere else in Portsmouth.
‘Breweries such as Magic Rock Brewing, in Huddersfield, and Marble Beers, in Manchester, have been in contact with us and we’ll soon be stocking up on their exciting range of ales.’
The Tangier pub, in Tangier Road, Copnor, also re-opened its doors earlier this month under new tenants after it was put up for let in September.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 12 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
chopper
Friday, January 6, 2012 at 08:41 AMThis is an amazing little pub, like that secret place that you stumble on and want to tell all your friends about. Then you don't want everyone to know, in case it changes. Well I'm lucky enough to have known this little gem since Jon and Kerry took over many years ago and I know how hard they work to createkeep this place very special. Now they own it, I know it can only be successful because they do what they do incredibly well.
MattWin
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 06:01 PMThis is a great pub, with quality ales and a fantastic atmosphere. Great Southsea Street is a lovely little road, too!
GTV
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 04:51 PMI'm sure Jon and Kerry don't need the likes of ALANBOOTSBALLS (sic), to ensure their continued success. They run an excellent house, with good company and a range of fine ales at sensible prices. I wish them well and look forward to my next visit. Cheers!
blondewivaniq
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 03:58 PMgood luck to you both hope it works out really well, there are not enough decent pubs in the area where the landlordlandlady are decent hard working caring people. Alanballsboots i suggest you go there one evening its a lovely friendly pub
scottmc
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 03:08 PMJon & Kerry have run the pub for some time now, and must be doing ok, else they wouldn't have gone for it. I back them to buck the trend and do well, good for them. Best of luck mate - Dave C. from your schooldays (& on the Pompey board) P.S. Can you get some of Kiddo's bottled beer from his Ventnor Garden in! :D
ALANBALLSBOOTS
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 01:00 PMA year from now CLOSED wait a see .
andyr
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 12:20 PM@ Alanballsboots. Don't slate the guy, get your boots on and go and support them, if more people did, it will help them keep their pledge keep prices down and have a good selection of beers.
the_lock_man
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 11:38 AM@ Alanballsboots. It's not a new landlord, it's the existing landlord that has bought the pub he was previously the tenant in. He now owns, not just renting.
Gamma500
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 11:12 AMallanballboots... A lot of pubs are doing very well.... don't believe all the hype...
DanDog
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 11:02 AMPost 2 - Alan Ball's Boots - dont know if you have ever been down The Hole In The Wall - but its a fairly small little pub thats always packed with regular drinkers - its one of the few pubs in Pompey that still retains any character. Seems to me the landlord has enough regulars there to keep it going through the recession and beyond. Lets hope so anyway.
ALANBALLSBOOTS
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 10:01 AMSorry but i think the new landlord has made a big mistake taking on this pub .Its money wasted pubs are shutting down at an alarming rate .
Chris Q in Oz
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 07:47 AMGood luck to them. Need all the decent pubs to stay alive. Keep quaffing the real stuff !!
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