Punters are being offered the opportunity to move to the other side of the bar and start pulling the pints at their favourite Shropshire village pub.

The Station Inn, in Horsehay, Telford, is to be auctioned off to the highest bidder and will go under the hammer on October 6 when an auctioneer visits the pub.

The Station is described as a “thriving” and well-established village inn and has a guide price of about £295,000. Auction details estimate net profits as being about £60,000 a year.

Karen Moss, from agent Guy Simmonds which is handling the sale, said it was a rare opportunity to acquire a “highly-profitable village freehold inn”.

She said: “Our vendor clients took over the premises in 2004 and have developed a strong trading foundation over the last six years.

Potential

“Yet it still offers a considerable amount of potential with longer opening hours and a bigger emphasis on food trade.”

She added: “After six successful years in the business our vendor clients are having to release the property to the market due to other commitments.

“This delightful inn is a successful and profitable business and, despite already having a solid trading foundation, still offers new enthusiastic owner operators potential to increase the sales.”

Mrs Moss said the advised turnover was £300,558 with net profits of £60,000 after adding charges and wages. She said 65 per cent of trade came through drinks, with 35 per cent from food.

“In our opinion this is an ideal opportunity for experienced owner operators to continue with this very successful business and endeavour to reap the rewards that are currently on offer,” Mrs Moss added.

“Our vendor client has established an excellent reputation which can be fully emulated by new enthusiastic operators.”

The Station Inn has a licence to sell alcohol from 11am to 12.30am Sunday to Thursday, and 11.30am to 1.30am on Friday and Saturday.

It is currently closed on Monday, open from 6pm to midnight Tuesday to Thursday, midday to 1am Friday and Saturday, and midday to 11pm on Sunday.

Anyone interested in making a bid can contact Guy Simmonds for a free information pack by emailing him at sales@guysim monds.co.uk or calling (01332) 865112.