Thousands of items from two closed Rasen area businesses go under the hammer this week

Pub and restaurant furniture, furnishings and equipment worth thousands of pounds are to go under the hammer this week after two well-known local venues decided to call it a day.
The Willows restaurant will not be reopening post covidThe Willows restaurant will not be reopening post covid
The Willows restaurant will not be reopening post covid

The auctions, which take place this Thursday, September 10, involve The Olde Barn Inn at Tealby and the Willows Garden Centre & Restaurant at Glentham, near Caenby Corner.

The Willows Garden centre closed last year, but its restaurant remained in business until the Covid lockdown in March.

The restaurant operator has now decided against continuing.

Auctioneer Paul Cooper, a director of industrial auctioneers Eddisons CJM, which is handling both sales, said: “Glentham turned out to be a difficult area for the venture, rather proving the point that you can be in the middle of everywhere . . . Market Rasen, Lincoln, Gainsborough, Scunthorpe and Grimsby . . . without being close enough to anywhere.

“Initial success after the opening of the garden centre back in 2013, faded as the novelty wore off.”

He added: “The Willows auction extends to 150 lots from the restaurant and the garden centre.

“The garden centre’s main steel-framed building is going under the hammer and is expected to go for just £2,000-£3,000.

“That would be a pretty amazing bargain – but the buyer does have to arrange for it to be dismantled and removed.”

“The auction also includes the equipment from the children’s play area.”

The restaurant lots include everything in the dining area and the kitchens, as well as log burners and office equipment.

As previously reported, owners of the Olde Barn at Tealby decided to call it a day early in 2020.

The site is now for sale, with planning permission for six homes.

Mr Cooper said: “Part of The Olde Barn Inn dates back four centuries, which must make it one of the oldest bits of pub in the county, albeit the site only became an inn 30 or 40 years ago.”

“Unfortunately, as everyone knows, country pubs have been struggling for some time.

“Attracting the great tenants and talented chefs that are now required to achieve success in the business isn’t easy.”

Mr Cooper continued: “The auction extends to 70 lots and includes all the furniture, fixtures and fittings from the bar, restaurant and kitchen. There is also a range of outdoor furniture and parasols.”

The viewing sessions for the auctions both take place on Wednesday, September 9, from 11am to 4pm at the Olde Barn Inn and 9am to 3pm at the Willows.

Illustrated auction catalogues are available at www.eddisonscjm.com.

The online auctions are scheduled to close at 1pm on Thursday, September 10.

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