The Maypole Group – set up in November 2003 to buy countryside hotels with quality pubs or restaurants – has bought its fifth site.

The Bridge Inn and restaurant in Acle, Norwich, is near the 15-bedroom Wayford Bridge hotel at Stalham which Maypole acquired earlier this year.

The Bridge Inn – named after the nearby bridge across the River Bure – lies on the busy A1064 tourist route that links Norwich with the Norfolk Broads and achieved sale of £596,000 in the year to January 31 2007.

It comprises 50-seat lounge bar areas and a 52-seat restaurant that have been built to replicate a lime kiln under a thatched roof.

There is also a 32-seat family room and a four-bedroom owners’ flat.

The property comes complete with extensive beer gardens with picnic seating for more than 150 guests, an enclosed children’s play area, a self-contained amusement arcade, 12 riverside moorings and a tea room/coffee shop serving the river trade in the high season.

The price includes a 21-year lease from July 2003 (sold of an asking price of £295,000) fixtures and fittings valued at £110,000 and £40,000 and goodwill of £150,000.
 
The Norwich office of Colliers Robert Barry sold the leasehold on behalf of Andrew Parke and hjs wife.

By Angela Frewin