Pickering's The White Swan pub sold in £540,000 deal which will see major upgrade of its caravan park

The 30-cover pub and 42-pitch caravan park at Newton-on-Rawcliffe is now owned by Bridlington-based Guy and Melissa Hornby who are carrying out an intensive first phase of refurbishment ahead of the Government’s planned April 12 reopening of holiday accommodation and beer gardens.

The business, which was marketed by commercial property estate agent Ernest Wilson, will now see the construction of new shower and toilet facilities as well as concrete bases for the caravans and landscaping of the caravan site, which is scheduled for later this year.

Mr Hornby said: “We are investing a six-figure sum in doing up the pub and the caravan site.

“We are already fielding an influx of bookings and enquiries from people extremely keen to secure a UK holiday and our location, here on the North York Moors, couldn’t be better. The clock is ticking as we count down to being able to open the pub next month to serve meals and drinks in our large beer garden, as well as welcoming our first guests to the caravan site.

“Right now we’re in the process of completely refurbishing the pub and beer garden so that they are modern, clean and bright and the White Swan becomes an asset to the village of Newton-on-Rawcliffe once again.”

Michael Peel, sales manager at Ernest Wilson, said: “In our experience. businesses in the travel and tourism sector are selling extremely well at the moment with this summer’s boom in UK holidays likely to continue to be a choice for more people than ever in coming years.”

He added: “Although it might seem counterintuitive, the demand for businesses that are on the market is currently vastly outstripping supply. After the past year’s enormous challenges many people who have been made redundant are looking for a change of direction in life and are opting to try and buy their own business rather than return to life as an employee.”

Acquired by property consultant Eddisons in 2019 Ernest Wilson was founded in 1956 and specialises in buying and selling hundreds of small businesses every year, from fish and chip shops to convenience stores and hotels. It has sold businesses worth more than £18.5m of since the start of the pandemic.