THE Smithy Restaurant at Little Eccleston, just off the A586 main road from Garstang to Blackpool, has been put up for sale by the Manchester office of leading business agents, Christie & Co.

The current owners are Alan and Beryl Chapman who have owned the business for three years, having bought it, closed and refurbished it to its current standard.

The building, as its name suggests, was the Blacksmith's workshop and cottage when it was built some 300 years ago, but has traded as a restaurant since 1957.

With 60 covers around a central gas "open" fireplace, the restaurant area is complemented by a large separate lounge bar with patio doors leading out to the attractive rear garden.

At first floor level, two coffee lounges are used for pre- and post-dinner drinks but, together with a kitchen and bathroom, have previously formed an owner's/manager's flat with its own entrance and clearly could be used for this purpose again is required.

James Richards of Christie & Co, who is dealing with the sale, said "The Chapmans have reluctantly put the restaurant up for sale for health reasons, having restored it to its former glory and built the trade back up again.

"It represents a unique opportunity for a new owner to take over as the restaurant is back on an upward trend."

For further information, contact James Richards on 0161 833 3311, or Kate Goldsmith on 01908 609970.

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