Oxfordshire's Roadside Real Estate pivots from pubs

Oxfordshire-based Roadside Real Estate has relinquished its leases on three pubs, all owned by Wiltshire family brewery Arkell's.

Leases on The Bull Hotel in Fairford, The Rose and Crown at Ashbury and the Eliot Arms in South Cerney have now been terminated for nil cost.

However, Barkby Pub Co, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Roadside Real Estate, has retained the freehold for The Coach & Horses at Chiselhampton near Oxford and has granted a lease to PS91 Hospitality, which has also assumed responsibility for the Arkell's pubs.

The move is part of a change in strategy announced by the company last year as it moves further into roadside real estate.

Charles Dickson, Executive Chairman of Roadside, said: "We are pleased to have concluded the exit of our pub business and we continue to focus on the execution of our roadside real estate strategy."

In March, Roadside Retail acquired a new asset on the A444 near Coventry as part of its joint venture with Meadow Partners.

The 8.25-acre site was bought for £3.26 million and currently features a 72,091 sq ft former Sainsbury’s food store, vehicle filling station, and 407-space customer car park.

Roadside sees potential for an EV charging hub, with options at the rear of the property for retail or last mile logistics.