The big Beresfield Tavern and bottle barn have been sold by ‘accidental publican’ Craig Herbert to local business owners and fellow first-timers Sam and Pierre Patel.
In 2021, the Tavern and bottleshop were put to market by Herbert, who had owned it since 2010. Originally attracted to the off-premise aspect of the business, in line with his experience managing retail liquor outlets, despite having never worked pubs before he bought them both.
Beresfield, home to around 3,200 locals, is 22 kilometres north-west of Newcastle and around halfway along the A43 to Maitland.
Building on opportunity, Herbert refurbished the bar and installed the venue’s first ever kitchen, which were well-received by the patronage, prompting the pub business to “take on a life of its own”.
Set on a 1,770sqm corner block, the pub provides a well-maintained bar, restaurant, beer garden and courtyard, with on-site parking.
The combined businesses report weekly turnover (FY20) of almost $60k (ex-GST), with more than two-thirds coming from the bottleshop.
“I’ve taken the place as far as I can … it’s time to chase a few other interests,” Herbert said of the sale.
The Patels operate a number of liquor and convenience stores in the area, and noting its surplus land, ready for expansion, are reportedly excited to build on the success of the existing business.
This is the latest in a procession of recent Hunter Region sales, including both Stephen Hunt taking Maitland’s Imperial and Cessnock’s Railway selling to a local last August, the Family Hotel selling in September, and Iris divesting two pubs in the area in November.
Sale of the Tavern and bottleshop was through Peter Manenti of Manenti Quinlan & Associates, who has history with the vendor through his selling Lemon Tree Passage Cellars, in 2021.
“The Beresfield Tavern and Bottle Barn is an excellent business with impressive scope to expand,” says Manenti.
“They’ve retained all existing staff, and it will be business-as-usual while they look at ways to expand the customer offering and grow the business.”
