The French Horn, Sonning-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG4 6TN

The French Horn, stands as a historical gem with a remarkable 200-year legacy. Under the ownership of the Emmanuel family since 1972, this former coaching inn has evolved into an iconic restaurant with rooms, celebrated for its enduring quality, unmatched location, and unrivalled reputation.

Spanning a substantial plot of 8.6 acres, this property affords considerable flexibility and potential for a visionary owner to reinvent and reposition it as a unique hospitality offering, poised to captivate a broad market.

Nestled on one of the most picturesque points along the River Thames, The French Horn, enjoys a strategic location with exceptional accessibility. This iconic property is conveniently situated in close proximity to several large towns and affluent villages, creating a broad catchment area that naturally draws a diverse and discerning clientele. Just a mere 40 miles from London, it’s well within reach of the capital’s population and serves as a favoured retreat for those seeking a riverside escape.

Access to The French Horn is simple, thanks to its convenient proximity to the M4, one of the major arterial roads connecting London and the South West. This accessibility extends to Reading station, further enhancing the property’s connectivity to the wider region.

The property boasts a 100 cover restaurant with panoramic views of the river, complemented by 14 elegantly appointed rooms above. Nearby, eight charming cottages offer comfortable rooms with their own river frontage, making them ideal for inclusion in the destination hotel offering or reimagined for a different purpose.

The French Horn restaurant can accommodate 100 guests within a riverside dining room adorned with breath-taking river views, as well as an adjacent private dining space. Tradition reigns in this English institution, where ducks roast in front of an open fire. The restaurant is a versatile space that could accommodate a range of styles and uses, all while benefiting from the stunning river frontage.

Commercial fixtures and fittings will be included in the sale in line with an inventory that will be provided once a deal is agreed.

In addition to the restaurant, The French Horn, offers accommodation in 14 charming rooms located above the dining facilities. Each room is well proportioned, offering bundles of natural light, en-suites, and stunning views.

Furleigh cottages provide additional rooms nearby that are set slightly further back and with their own river frontage, offering a tranquil setting for guests.

The restaurant extends seamlessly onto a covered terrace, providing an inviting alfresco dining experience for approximately 80 guests. This picturesque terrace offers a captivating vantage point, overlooking the manicured lawns that gracefully meet the river. The surrounding gardens that envelop the restaurant are a true spectacle and have been a consistent draw for patrons for decades.

Beyond the immediate restaurant vicinity, the property encompasses an expansive 5.6 acres of adjoining paddocks, offering a range of possibilities for an investor. This may include secluded lodges (STP) or an array of leisure activities; this large outdoor expanse is a treasure trove of potential.

One of the property’s crowning glories is its extensive 460 meters of river frontage, a prized asset that opens avenues for a variety of uses. The owners have exclusively exercised the right to moor and fish along the entire stretch of the river banks they own. This idyllic stretch of riverfront offers unique opportunities to a new operator.

For the convenience of patrons, the property currently provides parking with 30 spaces in the car park opposite the restaurant. There is potential for expansion by exploring the acquisition of nearby scrub land or the utilisation of additional space behind the adjacent houses.

An overview of the additional properties included within the property demise are as follows:

River and Bridge House
Currently configured as a single dwelling, featuring four bedrooms and five reception rooms, offering the potential, subject to planning, for conversion into two separate properties.

Orchard Lodge
This property is currently divided into four separate flats, including one two-bedroom unit, two one-bedroom units and one studio unit. An additional outbuilding serves as a supplementary kitchen and bathroom facility for
staff quarters.

Furleigh Cottages
Adjacent to the main hotel, these cottages play a crucial role as additional accommodation for the hotel. Comprising of eight cottages they come with a charming walled garden and direct river frontage, enhancing their appeal as a secluded private retreat.

Staff Accommodation
The property encompasses 17 staff accommodation chalets, housed within single-storey buildings.

Porter Cottage
A three-storey property currently unutilised, presenting the potential for incorporation into the hotel, subject to planning approvals.

Two-Storey Coach House
This structure comprises five rooms, offering diverse potential use options.

Timber Stable Block
Featuring a triple garage, this facility adds practicality to the property’s infrastructure.

This historic gem, a former coaching inn turned iconic restaurant, has thrived under the care of the Emmanuel family since 1972. The property’s 200-year legacy is steeped in tradition and culinary excellence.

Now ready for its next chapter, the 8.6-acre plot, which comprises multiple properties, is a highly versatile and rarely available opportunity that would suit an investor wanting to reimagine the site, offering significant upside and development potential.

Historical trading information can be made available to interested parties.

The property’s planning and development potential is vast. It includes the rejuvenation of adjacent houses, charming cottages, and staff accommodation for additional letting space. The substantial river frontage offers opportunities to create luxury hospitality spaces, leisure activities, and more.

The preferred route of sale is a full disposal of the shares of ‘French Horn Hotel Limited’.
The Vendors will consider all offers received in writing by midday on the 31st of January 2024 addressed to: Mr S Woodford, Haslams, 159 Friar Street, Reading, RG1 1HE, steve. .
Prospective purchasers are advised to make their own enquiries as to the condition of the property, prior to submitting their offer.
Purchasers are required to provide proof of funding.
The Vendors reserve the right not to accept the highest offer or to withdraw the property from the market, or to alter the method of sale at any time without notice.

Current Rateable value of £88,100.

Premises licence