'Excellent opportunity': Historic village pub in 'delightful' part of Northamptonshire is searching for a new operator to bring it back to life

The Witch & Sow in Guilsborough is available on a new free-of-tie lease at a guide rent of £40,000 a year, according to property agents Fleurets.

Andy Tudor, divisional director at Fleurets Midlands, said: “The Witch & Sow presents an excellent opportunity to reintroduce a well-known village pub back to the heart of the delightful village of Guilsborough.

“Having been closed since 2024, the property offers incoming operators the chance to put their own stamp on a substantial, character building with flexible trading areas, strong external space and generous living accommodation, all available on a free-of-tie basis.”

The pub, formerly known as The Ward Arms, is a detached property which includes a partly thatched building with a later brick extension.

Inside, there are several trading areas, along with a converted barn at the rear which can be used as a function or games room.

Outside, the property has an enclosed courtyard, a further garden area and additional storage buildings. There is also four-bedroom living accommodation above the pub.

Before closing, the pub had an impressive 4.5 star rating out of five from 321 Google reviews.

Historical details about the pub have been recorded by Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

CAMRA says the building reverted to its original name dating back to the 18th century. In 2014 it changed hands and underwent a major refurbishment, when it was renamed The Witch & Sow – a reference to a local tale from 1612 in which three women, later condemned as witches, were said to have ridden to the neighbouring village of Ravensthorpe “upon a sowes back”.

The pub stands opposite the village’s ironstone Jacobean grammar school and is made up of two distinct areas. The oldest section – a thatched, whitewashed building thought to date from the 17th or 18th century – houses a restaurant area. The 19th-century brick section contains a split-level bar with bare floorboards and large sash windows.

The property is currently closed. Viewings are strictly by appointment only through Fleurets Midlands Office. Interested parties can contact the office at 0121 236 5252 or via email at [email protected].