Snakecatcher pub in the New Forest village of Brockenhurst

18th August 2008, 9:58am

Local business partners, Calum MacLean and Martin Matysik, have snapped up a well known New Forest village pub, The Snakecatcher at Brockenhurst, Hampshire, from its owners, Lynne and Mike Sinker, through the Winchester office of property agents, Christie + Co.

Calum MacLean is from Brockenhurst and Martin Matysik is head-chef/proprietor of the acclaimed Thatched Cottage restaurant with rooms in Brockenhurst.

The Snakecatcher is a character, detached property is located on the A337, Lyndhurst Road, in the centre of this picturesque village and tourist centre. Brokenhurst is located within the Heritage Area of the New Forest, a unique landscape which was once the royal hunting ground of William the Conqueror.

Originally a coaching inn and then a railway inn, the pub is named after the New Forest's legendary snakecatcher, Harry Mills, also known as Brusher Mills, a well known local character in Victorian times who roamed the Forest with a forked stick catching snakes for payment. Harry was a regular at the then Railway Tavern, which later became the Brusher Mills and then the Snakecatcher.

A food-orientated pub with garden and skittle alley, the Snakecatcher serves good quality, homemade, cooked to order food sourced from local suppliers. It also caters for functions and hosts quizzes, jazz and theme nights.
The detached property comprises a public bar, 36-cover dining room, skittle alley/function room with capacity for 50, four-bedroom owner's accommodation, two loft rooms, trade gardens and a car park.

Keith Goodwin, associate director of Christie + Co, comments: "The Snakecatcher came onto the market on behalf of Lynne and Mike Sinker, who had owned and operated the business for seven years. They own a group of four pubs in Hampshire including the Hiltonbury Farmhouse in Chandler's Ford, which is also on the market with us.
The sale of the Snakecatcher offered a superb opportunity to acquire an established public house in the sought after village of Brokenhurst, ideally located to attract locals and tourists, and attracted a high level of interest.

Martin Matysik has now over 20 years' experience as a chef, having trained at a Swiss cooking school followed by work experience in world famous 2 and 3 Michelin starred restaurants in Germany, France, Switzerland and Japan. With their local knowledge and experience in the licensed trade, Calum and Martin are the ideal purchasers and we wish them every success with the business."

Christie + Co sold the Snakecatcher for an undisclosed figure after seeking £85,000 for the leasehold interest. The landlord is Admiral Taverns. The current lease runs until 31st July 2031 and the current annual rent is £50,000.