THE Bird in Hand, a popular Somerset village pub believed to date from the 1700s, is now on the market – and could be yours for £460,000.

The Bird in Hand, previously two cottages in the 1700s, then a cider house and eventually a full licensed public house in the 1960s, located on two Ash Walk Henstridge, is officially up for sale on the Symonds and Sampson website.

Location

The pub for sale is situated beside the A358 in the village of Henstridge, with a population of over 1,800 people.

The village stands on the junction of the A258 and A30 with the A358 connecting Bournemouth (35 miles) to Wincanton (6 miles).

The A30 connects Shaftesbury (10 miles) to Sherborne (5 miles) beyond which is Yeovil (12 miles). A bus service links Yeovil to Wincanton via Henstridge.

"The hub of the local community"

The pub has been in the same ownership for more than four decades and has been “the hub of the local community”, with many groups and organisations meeting there and a strong sports following for skittles and darts.

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The listing describes the leisure property as having “a wealth of character” with fireplaces at either side of the main bar space, one being of “rustic brick construction” with an inset feature bread oven, and the second of stone construction with a log burner.  

The floor finish is part fitted carpet and part quarry tile with furnishings comprising settles, tables and chairs “in keeping with the traditional pub ambiance”.

There is also a side games room with a dart board and TV, an upper bar, skittle alley and function room which “comfortably fits 50 covers”.

Alongside the kitchen the property also comes with a large storage room, ground floor level refrigerated beer cellar and bottle stores with a rear delivery door on the same level, as well as ladies and gentlemen’s toilets.

The owner’s accommodation is at first floor level with three double bedrooms, bathroom with over bath shower and a walk through sitting room.

Outside, there is a tarmac car park with space for about five vehicles and there is also a lower level paved forecourt with covered smoking shelter and tables and chairs.

The pub is described as the centre of village life and hosted many local functions,  events, weddings, christenings, darts and skittles tournaments.