8.60 Acres
For Sale
Development / Leisure / Residential
| Property Type | Development / Leisure / Residential |
| Tenure | For Sale |
| Size | 8.60 Acres |
| Price | £12,000,000.00 |
| Energy Performance Rating | Upon enquiry |
Situated on the beautiful banks of the River Thames, in the stunning village of Sonning in South Oxfordshire, The French Horn, has captivated admirers of riverside luxury for well over half a century. This historic gem, a former coaching inn turned iconic restaurant, has thrived under the care of the Emmanuel family since 1972. The property’s 200-year legacy is steeped in tradition and culinary excellence.
Now ready for its next chapter, the 8.6-acre plot, which comprises multiple properties, is a highly versatile and rarely available opportunity that would suit an investor wanting to reimagine the site, offering significant upside and development potential.
Nestled on one of the most picturesque points along the River Thames, The French Horn, enjoys a strategic location with exceptional accessibility. This iconic property is conveniently situated in close proximity to several large towns and affluent villages, creating a broad catchment area that naturally draws a diverse and discerning clientele. Just a mere 40 miles from London, it’s well within reach of the capital’s population and serves as a favoured retreat for those seeking a riverside escape.
Access to The French Horn is simple, thanks to its convenient proximity to the M4, one of the major arterial roads connecting London and the South West. This accessibility extends to Reading station, further enhancing the property’s connectivity to the wider region.
With an architectural style dating back two centuries, The French Horn, exudes timeless charm and grace. The property boasts a 100 cover restaurant with panoramic views of the river, complemented by 14 elegantly appointed rooms above. Nearby, eight charming cottages offer comfortable rooms with their own river frontage, making them ideal for inclusion in the destination hotel offering or reimagined for a different purpose.
Rare Opportunity
After half a century, The French Horn, is now available for a new proprietor, offering a unique opportunity to acquire a piece of riverside luxury in a stunning South Oxfordshire village, near several major towns and beautiful villages and only 40 miles from London.
Large Plot with Potential
Spanning a substantial plot of 8.6 acres, this property affords considerable flexibility and potential for a visionary owner to reinvent and reposition it as a unique hospitality offering, poised to captivate a broad market.
Income Sources
The property currently boasts income sources from its esteemed restaurant and letting rooms, but the untapped potential for increased turnover is significant once the business undergoes refurbishment and repositioning. Additionally, its underutilised riverfront mooring is an asset waiting to be maximised.
Development Possibilities
The expansive site includes adjacent houses, charming cottages, and staff accommodation that could be redeveloped into additional letting facilities. The large grounds hold the potential for further leisure activities, including riverside lodges, enhancing its appeal as an idyllic escape.
Theatre & Entertainment
Situated in close proximity to a renowned theatre, the property benefits from being part of a vibrant local cultural and entertainment hub.
Residential Potential
The property presents various redevelopment prospects, including the rejuvenation of adjacent houses, the repurposing of charming cottages, and the development of staff accommodation for additional letting space.
Riverfront Utilisation
The expansive river frontage offers the potential for creating luxury hospitality spaces in a breathtaking setting, as well as opportunities for fishing, mooring and more.
River and Bridge House
Currently configured as a single dwelling, featuring four bedrooms and five reception rooms, offering the potential, subject to planning, for conversion into two separate properties.
Orchard Lodge
This property is currently divided into four separate flats, including one 2-bedroom unit, two 1-bedroom units and one studio unit. An additional outbuilding serves as a supplementary kitchen and bathroom facility for staff quarters.
Furleigh Cottages
Adjacent to the main hotel, these cottages play a crucial role as additional accommodation for the hotel. Comprising of eight cottages they come with a charming walled garden and direct river frontage, enhancing their appeal as a secluded private retreat.
Staff Accommodation
The property encompasses 17 staff accommodation chalets, housed within single-storey buildings.
Porter Cottage
A three-storey property currently unutilised, presenting the potential for incorporation into the hotel, subject to planning approvals.
Two-Storey Coach House
This structure comprises five rooms, offering diverse potential use options.
Timber Stable Block
Featuring a triple garage, this facility adds practicality to the property’s infrastructure.
The French Horn restaurant can accommodate 100 guests within a riverside dining room adorned with breath-taking river views, as well as an adjacent private dining space. Tradition reigns in this English institution, where ducks roast in front of an open fire. The restaurant is a versatile space that could accommodate a range of styles and uses, all while benefiting from the stunning river frontage.
Historical trading information can be made available to interested parties.
The restaurant extends seamlessly onto a covered terrace, providing an inviting alfresco dining experience for approximately 80 guests. This picturesque terrace offers a captivating vantage point, overlooking the manicured lawns that gracefully meet the river. The surrounding gardens that envelop the restaurant are a true spectacle and have been a consistent draw for patrons for decades.
Beyond the immediate restaurant vicinity, the property encompasses an expansive 5.6 acres of adjoining paddocks, offering a range of possibilities for an investor. This may include secluded lodges (STP) or an array of leisure activities; this large outdoor expanse is a treasure trove of potential.
One of the property’s crowning glories is its extensive 460 meters of river frontage, a prized asset that opens avenues for a variety of uses. The owners have exclusively exercised the right to moor and fish along the entire stretch of the river banks they own. This idyllic stretch of riverfront offers unique opportunities to a new operator.
For the convenience of patrons, the property currently provides parking with 30 spaces in the car park opposite the restaurant. There is potential for expansion by exploring the acquisition of nearby scrub land or the utilisation of additional space behind the adjacent houses.
In addition to the restaurant, The French Horn, offers accommodation in 14 charming rooms located above the dining facilities. Each room is well proportioned, offering bundles of natural light, en-suites, and stunning views.
Furleigh cottages provide additional rooms nearby that are set slightly further back and with their own river frontage, offering a tranquil setting for guests.
The property’s planning and development potential is vast. It includes the rejuvenation of adjacent houses, charming cottages, and staff accommodation for additional letting space. The substantial river frontage offers opportunities to create luxury hospitality spaces, leisure activities, and more.
FREEHOLD GUIDE PRICE OF £12,000,000
The preferred route of sale is a full disposal of the shares of ‘French Horn Hotel Limited’.
The Vendors will consider all offers received in writing by midday on the 31st January 2024 addressed to: Mr S Woodford, Haslams, 159 Friar Street, Reading, RG1 1HE, steve.woodford@haslams.net.
Prospective purchasers are advised to make their own enquiries as to the condition of the property, prior to submitting their offer.
Purchasers are required to provide proof of funding.
The Vendors reserve the right not to accept the highest offer or to withdraw the property from the market, or to alter the method of sale at any time without notice.
Viewings
Asset tours will be carried out on a Monday or Tuesday (certain Tuesdays in December may not be available due to varied Christmas opening hours) – a tour is expected to take around 90 minutes to visit all areas.
Data Room
A data room of due diligence information will be made available to seriously interested parties.
TIM WIDDOWS
Christie & Co - Associate Director
T: +44 (0) 7795 037 676
E: tim.widdows@christie.com
STEVE WOODFORD
Haslams (Exec Chairman)
D: 0118 960 1009
M: 07768 998394
E: steve.woodford@haslams.net
CHRIS NEWMAN
Haslams Surveyors (Partner)
D: 0118 921 1521
M: 07879 600064
E: chrisnewman@haslams.co.uk
