Although not trading at present, Howe Country Centre has, in its day, been one of Scotland’s premier equestrian centres hosting British Show Jumping approved events, national competitions and providing facilities for training, livery and Riding for the Disabled. The well serviced, modern function suite with bar, viewing gallery and conferencing rooms has been a popular local destination and the offices and retail space provide considerable scope for further business development. The property extends to about 14.5 acres (5.84 ha) in all with Five Oaks House set in a large garden at the northern end and grass paddocks and jumping areas to the south. The main building complex is central to the site with a large yard area front and rear allowing for ample lorry and car parking as required.
Location
Howe Country Centre, formerly known as Dabbs Equestrian Centre, is centrally located in the heart of rural Fife about 20 miles south east of Perth, 6 miles west of Cupar and within 12 miles from junction 8 off the M90. It is served by local towns of Ladybank and nearby Cupar (6 miles) that have an extensive range of shops, services, and amenities. Perth and Dundee are between about 20 and 30 minutes away by car from where there are excellent communication links via the motorway, main line rail stations and an airport at Dundee’s Riverside.
Fife is particularly well known for the quality and diversity of its agricultural land and businesses with the area around Giffordtown particularly well known for producing high quality arable and potato crops due to the free draining nature of the land. Fife is home to some of Britain’s leading businesses including ABN (Scotland) Ltd, one of Britain’s largest suppliers of animal feed, Kettle Produce, with their 18,000m2 state of the art vegetable packing facility in Orkie, Shepherd Offshore in Halbeath and Amazon in Dunfermline that employs over 900 people and has a 90,000m2 distribution centre.
Fife is home to many good restaurants and gastro pubs. The Peat Inn and Sangster’s in Ellie are just two that have been honoured with Michelin stars. As well as Fife’s thriving dining and business sectors the area is a very popular holiday destination with picturesque fishing villages such as Crail, Anstruther and Pittenweem dotted up what’s known as the Neuk of Fife. Probably the most well known town in Fife is St Andrews, a renowned tourist and student destination with the West Sands beach, ancient cathedral, University and of course some of the best golf courses on the planet.
Approximate Mileages:
Cupar 6 miles • Edinburgh 40 miles • Perth 17 miles • M90 11 miles
Accommodation
EQUESTRIAN CENTRE
The centre has evolved with the growth of the business with the original steel framed building covering an area of about 3050m2 and housing a covered arena and a range of stables and stores. The most recent addition is the new arena and function suite which has added approximately another 1950m2 over two floors. Within the building now there are 37 permanent stables, tack rooms and equipment stalls. The central part of the building is open storage space with partially insulated walls and a concrete floor throughout.
Linking the storage to the new arena is a suite of offices, a small retail unit, a café/restaurant area and ladies and gents WC’s. Upstairs the main function suite has a glazed wall to view the main arena and is capable of seating. There is a separate conference room and a dance/party room. To the rear of the main buildings is a newly built machinery store and secure workshop.
FIVE OAKS HOUSE
This is a particularly good house, built of timber frame with a rendered block exterior under a tile roof. It has accommodation on a single floor which is spacious and comfortable. The house has generous public rooms with a large sitting room with views of the surrounding countryside, a large farmhouse style kitchen and dining room. There are three bedrooms each with its own en-suite shower room and walk-in wardrobe and there is a separate family room. Outside there is a detached garage which has been partially adapted for additional office space and there is a large garden offering plenty of scope for landscaping and screening.
THE LAND
To the south of the main Activity Centre is an area of land extending to about 7 acres which is divided into 3 separate grassed enclosures and an outdoor arena.
Terms
CURRENT LEASE
Approximately 8370 sq ft of the original equestrian centre is currently being leased out to Grimmie UK. The lease is due to be terminated on the 30th of June 2013 if not before.
PLANNING
There is a section 75 agreement attached to the title which prevents the house or buildings being sold separately from each other together with a restriction on the occupancy of the house which can only be lived in by someone engaged with the equestrian business. Further details are available from the Selling Agents.
SERVICES
The main buildings are connected to mains electricity, water, gas and drainage. Five Oaks House also has mains electricity, water and drainage with central heating and hot water provided by an LPG boiler.
BUSINESS RATES
Howe Activity Centre has a current Rateable Value of £21,700 with the current Business Rate poundage for 2012/13 rate £XXX. Water and Sewerage Rates are payable in addition.
ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE
Howe Country Centre Buildings – Band C
Five Oaks House – Band F
FIXTURES AND FITTINGS
All fixtures and fittings are specifically excluded from the sale.
TITLE
The subjects are sold under the conditions in the title deeds. They will be sold as possessed by the seller and no warranty will be given.
OFFERS
Offers are to be submitted in Scottish legal terms to the selling agents and must be accompanied by proof of finance acceptable to the seller and/or a non-refundable deposit.
DEPOSIT
On conclusion of missives a deposit of 10% of the purchase price will payable with the balance payable on the date of entry. The deposit will be non-refundable in the event of a purchaser failing to complete the sale for reasons not attributable to the sellers or their agents.
OVERSEAS PURCHASERS
Any offer by a purchaser who is resident out with the United Kingdom must be accompanied by a guarantee from a bank that is acceptable to the seller.
ENTRY AND POSSESSION
The date of entry will be by mutual agreement between the purchaser and the seller.
Specification
• Five Oaks House with 2 reception rooms, farmhouse kitchen, 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms
• Purpose built indoor riding arena (29m x 65m), Judge’s box, Spectators’ gallery
• Function Suite, Bar and commercial catering facilities
• 37 permanent stables (3.5m x 4.2m)
• Retail shop and offices
• About 5752m2 of covered space on ground and first floor
• Extensive yard space with ample car and lorry parking
• About 7 acres of grazing