Paul Hubbard Commercial are delighted to bring to market a truly unique property and business, Dedham Art and Craft Centre.
Situated within the beautiful village of Dedham, the Dedham Art and Craft Centre stands as a beacon of creativity and cultural vibrancy.
This unique establishment, set against the backdrop of the picturesque Essex countryside, embodies a fusion of artistic expression and community spirit.
Housed in a charming historic converted church building, the centre showcases a diverse array of locally crafted pieces, from intricately designed pottery to captivating paintings and handmade textiles
The welcoming ambiance invites residents and visitors alike to explore and engage with the thriving artistic community, fostering a sense of inspiration and connection.
As well as the vast array of items on sale, the property also includes a popular and successful tea room which draws in many customers throughout the year, both local and those from further afield.
The Dedham Art and Craft Centre adds a dynamic cultural dimension to the village, enhancing the quality of life for residents and contributing to the area’s distinctive charm.
Due to retirement, the freehold is now available to purchase with an asking price of £995,000.
The Property:
Ground Floor: Large double doors open into a spacious showroom area, with a wide array of items available for sale, from greetings cards to stylish ornaments, kitchenalia and high-quality furnishings.
The ground floor includes a small kitchen area to the left upon entry which incorporates a large cupboard/storage area. To the rear is an office with additional storage and a staircase leading to the first floor.
The main showroom itself is open plan and features a wooden staircase giving access to the first floor retail area. To the right is the tearoom which has space for 50+ covers.
The tearoom has its own separate kitchen space with additional rooms at the front for storage of stock and equipment. There are also customer toilets available to the right of the main entrance.
First Floor: The first floor is bright and spacious with solid wood floors throughout. The staircase leads to an open plan trading area with a variety of products available from different vendors.
To the left of the main floor area is an annexe which is illuminated by the beautiful large octagonal windows in the ceiling. Again, there is wood flooring throughout with exposed beams which retains the historic feel of the building.
To the front of the building on the first floor is a staff area which includes toilet facilities, a kitchen and multiple storage areas. There is an additional trading area and office both of which could be rented out, but are currently used by the owners.
Second Floor: The second floor begins with a stunning wooden walkway from the staircase which has a bright and airy feel due to the high ceilings and large windows. This again has a wide range of products available from local artists and craftspeople as well as additional storage space and staff toilet facilities to the front of the building.
External: The front of the property includes a gravelled area which is used as an additional seating area for visitors to the tearoom. The rear of the property has a small open area which has access to the boiler room and fire escapes.
The Business:
This is a thiriving business which has been built up successfully over a 40 year period. It offers a fantastic regular income as well as allowing the owners a flexible work-life balance. The business has only had two owners in its 40 year history, with the current owners having been in place for over 20 years.
There are currently in excess of 80 tenants occupying various spaces within the centre, most of which have been selling their products from this location for a number of years.
All tenants are on rolling tenancy agreements with a 3 month notice period, and there are no rent arrears.
The current rental income from all tenants is £9489pcm, which puts the business on track to exceed £115,000 for the financial year which ends on March 31st 2024.
As well as the rental income, the owners occupy around two thirds of the ground floor showcasing products from their own business Charlie6, which provides an additional stream of income. This was established back in 2009 and has one full time employee.
The tearoom has been in place for the full 40 years and currently contributes £18,500pa in rental income. The existing tenants have been operating from the centre since 2019. This is a very popular part of the business and helps to attract more and more people to the site, as well as offering a lovely environment for customers to sit down and enjoy some refreshments after a busy day of shopping!
As part of the lease agreement for the tea room, there is a 6 month notice and break clause in place for tenant and landlord.
Business rates payable between April 2024 and March 2025 equate to £3461.81, which includes 75% retail relief.
