Future of Louth's 'fantastic' oldest pub is guaranteed after sale
The future of Louth’s oldest pub appears guaranteed after its successful sale to an expanding group.
The popular, award-winning Ye Olde Whyte Swanne, which dates back to 1612 during the reign of King James I, has been bought by Punch Pubs and Co for an undisclosed sum.
Andrew Cannons, Punch’s head of acquisitions, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ye Olde Whyte Swanne into the Punch family.
"This is a fantastic community pub with a strong local reputation. It’s our priority that it continues to thrive, and I have no doubt that it will go from strength to strength.”
According to the Business Link (East Midlands) website, the pub was acquired after a confidential sales process with Jonty Green, business agent at Christie and Co, the Nottingham-based property adviser and business broker.
Jonty said: “We are delighted to have completed the sale to Punch of Ye Olde Whyte Swanne, a charming pub with so much character.
"The sale highlights the continued demand for pubs with strong wet sales in urban locations.”
The 17th century Eastgate pub features a cosy front bar, lounge and dining area, plus a courtyard beer-garden that is popular for al fresco drinking and dining during the summer. Home-cooked dishes include traditional fish and chips, steal and ale pie and sharing platters.
Ye Olde Whyte Swanne, which is rumoured to be haunted, is well-known for its local and international ales and was named the Louth and District town pub of the year in 2024 by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) organisation.
At the time, landlord Neil Bunch said: “The award is not just for the beer but also for the whole presentation of the pub, the staff, the way our customers are greeted and the atmosphere in the bar.
"The pub is warm and comfortable, and we have a log fire in the winter. The beer garden is a hidden gem and, in the summer time, it doubles the size of our pub. It's a sun trap and it's full of vibrant flowers.
"We offer four cask ales on at the same time, two regulars and two rotating cask beers. The rest of the beer is something very different because we offer Belgian and Dutch beers.
"Apart from the beers, we have an expansive wine selection. We also have a large non-alcoholic range, which is increasingly popular, such as bottled non-alcoholic cider so people don't have to have a soft drink when they are not drinking.”
Despite the sale, the pub will continue to be run by landlord Neil, landlady Dawn Bunch, and their staff. It will form part of Punch’s leased and tenanted estate.
David Hill, operations manager for Punch, said: “I’m incredibly excited to work alongside Neil, Dawn, Aliyah and the team at Ye Olde Whyte Swanne.
"This is a fantastic pub that plays a key role within the community, and I’m looking forward to seeing its continued success.
"We are continually on the lookout for more quality acquisitions, including packages and single-site opportunities that fit well with our modern and progressive vision and growth plans.”