Property description
A superb opportunity to acquire a well-established holiday letting and livery business in Llangennith Swansea. The 1600's farmstead was previously a derelict sheep and cattle farm and was purchased by its current owners in 1987. Due to the commitment and investment from the owners, Tankey Lake Livery has flourished and developed into three stunning self-catering cottages as well as a cosy owner's farmhouse and a popular livery business.
The farmstead is in an excellent coastal location and provides easy access to a number of lively outdoor pursuits in the AONB of Gower as well as extraordinary views over Llangennith's coastline. Tankey Lake Livery is managed by the two current owners and a small handful of cleaning staff that provide the excellent customer service that has resulted in regular referrals and recommendations from guests.
The livery yard is accredited by the British Horse Society and was awarded \"Highly Commended\" across the majority of the inspection areas demonstrating the excellent standard of livery facilities available at the farmstead.
The current owners are only selling due to their wish to retire. However they leave behind a fantastic venue with scope and opportunity for significant development in a variety of ways.
An overview of the opportunity is as follows:
* Well established and renowned holiday letting and livery location set in 31 acres of land to include all of the farm machinery as listed.
* Four bedroomed modernised farmhouse (owner's accommodation).
* Three stunning self-catering cottages with bespoke features as well as owner's accommodation.
* Income generated from a BHS approved livery business.
* Benefits from reputation and regular referrals.
* Superb location to explore Wales, the local area and the coastline.
* Potential to develop farming and related activities.
* Several opportunities exist to further develop the land which may generate additional income.
History & Ownership
Initially built around 1600, Tankey Lake Livery was previously a derelict sheep and cattle farm and was purchased in 1987 by our client. The site has been spectacularly transformed over the subsequent 28 years. Surrounded by mature trees, the property and livery has been developed into the following:
Farmhouse E43 - full EPC available.
Three Outstanding Cottages - Bluebell Cottage/Buttercup Cottage/Daisy Cottage. E43/F34/E43 - full EPCs available.
Large Garden shed.
Five Barns plus planning for a sixth.
Livery - includes Manège and Horse Walker.
In addition to this, planning permission has also been granted for a sixth barn/indoor dressage arena.
The farmstead is set across 31 acres of land which is divided into 13 small fields, ideal for horses and/or sheep.
Tankey Lake Livery is run by the registered proprietor David Miller and his wife Vera, who are supported by a small number of cleaning staff.
The Livery business has an existing licensee who would be prepared to enter into a new arrangement with the purchaser.
Our clients now wish to sell due to their desire to retire.
The full address of Tankey Lake Livery is: Tankey Lake Farm, Llangennith, Swansea, SA3 1DT
The ownership of the business is as follows:
David Montague Miller 100% of Business
Vera May Miller 100% of Property
Key Business Milestones
1987 Tankey Lake Livery - previously a sheep and cattle farm - was purchased by current owners
1990 Bluebell Cottage, a 4* 1 bedroom living space, was renovated and opened
1992 Following the success of Bluebell Cottage, a second self-catering cottage Buttercup Cottage was opened
1998 - 2000 Barn two was renovated and launched as well as barn three undergoing renovation and fitted with solar panels
2005 Daisy Cottage, the third self-catering cottage, was refurbished and opened
2010 Barns four and five were re-built and improved
2012/13 Acknowledgements from Cottages4You and British Horse Society for superior service
2013/14 Manège reconditioned with floodlight enhancements as well as a horse walker being constructed
2015 All three self-catering cottages continue to be improved including new boilers, new kitchens and further re-decoration
AWARDS/ACCREDITATIONS
Tankey Lake Livery has won a number of awards and accreditations which are as follows:
Year Acknowledgement
1997 FWAG/Broadoak Farming Silver Lapwing Award for Conservation
2011 NFU Fields of Opportunity - Best Holiday Location Award
2012 Cottages4You - Gold Award for 100% Customer Satisfaction
2013 Unsung Hero from BHS TREC
THE FACILITIES, SERVICES AND THE LOCAL AREA
Tankey Lake Livery offers three stunning self-catering cottages, located only two miles from the nearest of many sandy beaches. These three 16th century cottages nestle in 31 acres of the owner's working farm/livery between Gower's two highest hills, naturally commanding countryside views. These 1 and 2 bedroom cottages operate as the prime business for the owners with a separate livery service rented out to a third party. The livery yard also offers the opportunity for horse riding lessons, equestrian laundry service, horse box hire and grazing for tack sheep.
The location affords Tankey Lake Livery excellent accessibility to a wide range of outdoor pursuits such as pony-trekking, bird-watching, golf and water sports in the local village of Gower. This is Britain's first designated 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'. The property is ideally situated close to Llangennith's coastline, along with beautiful bays and secluded coves, meaning visitors can enjoy coastal walks with the company of abundant wildlife.
Currently, lettings are pre-booked for 2016 as well as new bookings being taken daily giving a positive outlook for the future of Tankey Lake Livery.
Occupancy Fees
Prices for each of the three cottages are dependent upon the time of year and can be classified into three groups:
Low Season - January, February, March, October, November & December
Mid Season - April, May, June, September & October half-term
High Season - May half-term, July, August, Easter, Christmas & New Year
Bluebell Cottage - Low /Mid /High £390 / £594 / £632
Buttercup Cottage - Low /Mid /High £502 / £727 / £774
Daisy Cottage - Low /Mid /High £533 / £794 / £846
Pets are welcomed and guests are charged an extra £25 per week for each pet they wish to bring.
Owner's Accommodation
The owner accommodation comprises a substantial stone and slate 4 bedroom farmhouse with a private garden to the front and a patio to the rear. The cottage has two bathrooms, four bedrooms (with one currently being used for an office) and two reception rooms, a kitchen, a larder, toilet and a full length conservatory.
Ground Floor
Conservatory - 8.44m x 3.36m
Kitchen/Breakfast room - 4.23m x 3.16m
Bathroom - 3.45m x 1.65m
Inner Hall
Lounge - 4.76m x 4.02m
Front Entrance Porch
Dining room - 3.10m x 3.07m
First Floor
Landing
Bedroom No. 1 - 4.03m x 3.11m
Study - 3.16m x 2.06m (max)
Bedroom No. 2 - 4.02 (max) x 3.15m
Bedroom No. 3 - 4.05m (max) x 3.06m
Bathroom - 2.77m x 2.75m
Separate WC
All rooms in the farmhouse provide central heating radiators with additional electric storage heaters in the lounge, kitchen and dining room.
The Accommodation
Property Sleeps
Bluebell Cottage 2 people
Buttercup Cottage 4 people
Daisy Cottage 4 people
Bluebell Cottage
Bluebell Cottage is a single-storey barn conversion that is linked to the main farmhouse. It features an oil-fired central heating system as well as double glazed windows and beamed ceilings and newly refurbished décor. It is a 4* 1 bedroom cottage that accommodates up to 2 people plus a cot.
Open plan lounge/kitchen - 6.40m x 4.19m
Shower Room - 2.24m x 1.67m
Bedroom - 4.28m x 2.78m
Buttercup Cottage
Buttercup Cottage is also a quaint single-storey barn conversion with oil-fired central heating and beamed ceilings but also boasts a unique open stone fireplace. It can sleep up to 4 people - plus a cot.
Open plan lounge/kitchen - 4.4m x 4.02m
Bathroom 2.29m x 1.82m
Bedroom No. 1 - 4.86m x2.43m
Bedroom No. 2 - 4.75m x 2.44m
Daisy Cottage
Daisy Cottage is a detached self-catering cottage that is generously spread across two storeys and can sleep up to 4 people. It provides features such as an exposed stone natural wall and beamed ceilings as well as benefitting from French style doors leading to the patio area.
Ground Floor
Entrance Hall
Cloak Room - 2.72m x 0.92m
Lounge - 6.53m x 3.92m
Alcove leading to Kitchen - 3.24m x 1.76m
First Floor
Landing
Bedroom No. 1 - 3.88m x 2.85m
Bedroom No. 2 - 3.88m x 2.85m
Bathroom - 4.20m x 1.77m
Door to Storage room - 2.75m x 0.93m
Outside -
Attractive gardens and grounds that feature an ornamental duck pond to the front of the cottages
Lawns and decorative flower beds in the surrounding exterior
Adorning orchard, polytunnel to the rear of Dairy Cottage
The Livery Yard
The barns offer features such as American barn-style stabling, slate roofing and traditional oak framing.
The British Horse Society approved livery is comprised of:
Barn No. 1
Built in 1978, the barn is utilised for horse livery and consists of 12 horse boxes all fully furnished with automated water bowls, hayracks, mangers and rubber mat flooring.
Approx. 20m x 18.6m
Barn No. 2
The barn was constructed in 1998 for 6 additional horse boxes complete with replica features of Barn No. 1. It also provides a shelter and feeding yard for horses during the colder winter months.
Barn No. 3
The barn features stone faced walls and a slate roof constructed in such a way that makes conversion into a house effortless with minimum reconstruction. It includes an isolation box, kitchen, toilet/shower room, laundry, feed room and storage area. As part of the owners' commitment to the environment, this barn also produces solar-powered electricity to compliment the conventional part oil-fired central heating.
Barn No 4. & 5
These barns were constructed in 2010 and offer strong structural features of traditional oak-framed clad with hardwood plus slate roofing.
Manège
The manège has recently undergone floodlight enhancements and was constructed using an all-weather surface and freshly re-laid in 2014.
40m x 20m
Horse Walker
Constructed in 2014, the 35' diameter horse exerciser accommodates up to 5 horses and is complete with steel roofing and a paviour rubber floor.
Land
Most of the land faces South and covers approximately 31 acres. Maintenance of the land is uncomplicated with regular applications of lime and fertilizer, farm yard manure and reseeding as well as a substantial drainage system in place. The land is generously divided into 13 fields The property also has the benefit of Common grazing rights on the adjacent Common for 30 horses or 30 cattle or 150 sheep or combination thereof. The current owner also rents out land during winter months for the tack of sheep as the area's exclusive microclimate allows horses to stay out all year round.
BHS Inspection
Horse Welfare HC
Customer Care HC
Teaching/Instructing/Coaching C
Riding Out HC
Stabling HC
Arenas (indoor & outdoor) C
Grassland Management & Turnout C
Tack Rooms HC
Feed Rooms HC
Show Jumps HC
Working Procedures C
Additional Facilities C
HC - Highly Commended
C - Commended
A - Approved
THE TEAM
David and Vera Miller successful run the daily management of their business with support from a small number of cleaning and maintenance staff listed below:
Job Title/Hours/Hourly Wage - Cleaner/4/£10.00
Job Title/Hours/Hourly Wage - Cleaner/4/£10.00
Job Title/Hours/Hourly Wage - Supervisor, Laundry & Gardener/7/£15.00
MARKETING
Competition
Given the open and spacious nature of Gower, only three other livery farms exist in the area however most only offer livery services as opposed to both livery and holiday lettings, which has allowed Tankey Lake Livery to establish their own niche market and gain access a larger audience. We are advised that no significant competitors in terms of holiday lettings and liveries are present in the area and cannot remotely compete with Tankey Lake Livery's occupancy rates or accommodating facilities for horses.
Marketing
Tankey Lake Livery has been extremely successful in promoting and generating a consistent demand for its wide range of services through press advertising, postal mailings and online advertising. It also relies upon word of mouth recommendations, referrals and social media to facilitate interest and awareness which has proved highly effective.
Tankey Lake Livery operates a comprehensive, responsive and professional content-managed website which is also suitable for use on both iPhone and Android platforms. The website offers an informative view of the services available as well as options to enquire and request assistance in locating the farmstead.
The website can be accessed via the following address: www.tankeylakelivery.co.uk/
STRENGTHS & OPPORTUNITIES
Strengths
Awarded best holiday location in Wales
31 acres of prime land establishing itself as the favoured plot on the Gower peninsula
Deluxe renovated development
Completely off-road riding station
Excellent occupancy - significantly above the UK average
Stunning, coastal location with easy access to many surrounding outdoor activities
No direct competitor in the area
Guaranteed income from PV solar panels
Opportunities
Planning permission granted for conversion to barn number six for use as a storage area.
Potential to build 'glamping' log cabins in some fields to attract a larger audience.
A further 30 acres of land is available to rent at Three Crosses for expansion and development purposes
Most cottage owners now rely entirely on their own websites as opposed to agents to secure bookings. The new owners have the opportunity to eliminate the 21.5% commission required by the letting agent by enhancing the website and allowing customers to book directly from the website.
TESTIMONIALS
Bluebell Cottage
\"We have had such a restful week in Bluebell Cottage and enjoyed walking our dogs on all the beautiful beaches in the area. We would definitely come again!\"
\"What a place to come and switch off! Very comfortable cottage with stunning scenery\"
\"A comfortable, well equipped cottage in a wonderful location. We would strongly recommend this cottage to friends\"
\"A lovely, comfortable cottage and a great location, so peaceful, we've had a great break and would love to come back, highly recommend!\"
Buttercup Cottage
\"We've had a lovely stay in this beautiful cottage. Enjoyed having the ducks for company! We also enjoyed the lovely beaches and open spaces, we hope to come back again\"
\"Thanks for a lovely stay. Great hospitality, great location and a wonderful surrounding. We will highly recommend this lovely cottage to our friends, thank you!\"
\"We had a fantastic week. The cottage is great, the views spectacular and the walks even better! Thank you for providing a cosy home for the week to allow us to explore a fantastic part of the world\"
\"Great holiday and lovely cottage, this was our 6th visit!\"
\"What a lovely cottage, the boys loved the ducks, horses & dogs! Four amazing sunny days on the beach in April, we even got a bit sunburned Thank you so much David\"
Daisy Cottage
\"Thank you for a wonderful holiday. Gower is my favourite holiday destination. We love the cottage and have enjoyed the beauty of the situation\"
\"So loved our gorgeous week in this beautiful cottage and part of the world, thank you so much!\"
\"Lovely cottage and grounds, so friendly and wonderful to see the ducks and horses. Gower as always is a beautiful place, 5 stars! Many thanks, we hope to visit again\"
\"Thank you so much for a wonderful stay. We've had a peaceful yet fun holiday and would love to return\"
\"Lovely cottage, beautiful walks and the sun shone! What more could you want?\"
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A - ASSET LIST
Farm equipment for sale by auction or sale with business:
Asset Estimated Value (£)
John Deere 5720 Tractor with Front Loader £33,000
Oris 470SX-P Hedge Cutter £7,000
Browns Viceroy 3 Leg Subsoiler and Mole Plough £6,000
Pottington Novacat 225H Mower and Topper £5,000
Ivor Williams 505 Horsebox Trailer £2,500
Einbock 3 Section hydraulic folding grass harrow £1,800
Husqvarna 3' Ride on Mower £1,700
Teagle XT20 Fertiliser Spinner, new 2014 £1,500
Single Axle Bale Trailer with Ladders £1,500
8' Water Ballast Roller £800
PZ Haybob £600
John Deere Front Bucket, as new £500
Grab Bale Handler £300
Muck Fork £100
Stihl 2 Stroke Chain Saw £200
Stihl Petrol Hedge Cutter £200
DeWalt Radial Arm Saw £200
Husqvarna 2 Stroke Strimmer £150
Power Tools, Ladders etc £500
Total £63, 550
Property Features :
- Superb location on the Gower Peninsula
- Set in approx. 31 acres of land
- Farmhouse plus 3 holiday cottages
- 5 barns & planning for a 6th for storage
- Livery includes Manege and horse walker