The Silent Woman sits in the middle of the picturesque and popular Wareham Forest, close to several large tourist caravan/camping sites and within a 15 minute drive of the thriving South Dorset town of Wareham. Consequently the guest base is wide and varied, with the pub attracting campers, walkers, and daytrippers, as well as being a destination dining venue for the nearby populations. Due to its rural location, transport by car is undoubtedly the most popular way of visiting the pub, although during the summer there is significant walking trade from the campsites. Poole, with its beautiful natural harbour, long sandy beaches, and all of its seaside amenities, is only a short drive away.
The unusual pub name of ‘The Silent Woman’ originates from a local legend that the pub was used as a smugglers haunt with the narrative of a talkative landlady who gave away the smugglers’ secrets in Wareham market place. Fearful of capture by the ever-present Excise Men, the smugglers silenced her by cutting out her tongue hence the pub name. During its history the pub has also been called The Angel and The Quiet Lady from Thomas Hardy’s novel, The Return of the Native.
The pub has a prominent A road location with an attractive patio and landscaped area to the front. On entering the pub, you’ll notice that the interior is in great condition and although dated in style, there is potential for investment in this site. The bar area is comfortable and is suitable for mixed drinking/dining with a feature copper bar top. The dedicated dining areas are extensive and can be partitioned for functions and weddings, or for more intimate dining. The toilets, kitchen and cellar are all conveniently located on the ground floor making the pub straightforward for volume trade sessions. The route to the gardens is to the side of the building, with an enclosed area for families, as well as beautiful and extensive grounds which can be utilised for camping and large events.
Like the rest of the pub the upstairs accommodation is in excellent condition, comprising 3x bedrooms, an office, bathroom, lounge and store rooms. The catering kitchen is shared as a domestic kitchen.
Bedrooms – 3
Private kitchen – No
Lounge – Yes
Office – Yes
Bathrooms – 1
Store rooms – Yes
The key to successful trading at the Silent Woman is to combine the various income streams so that the peak summer months are complemented by a strong guest base throughout the year. To achieve this, we’re looking for an operator(s) who can deliver premium evening and weekend dining all year round, with high volume family-driven business during the summer and holiday months.
*Trade volumes have been affected by Covid-19 lockdown closure periods.
“Given the unique location and available space offered by the Silent Woman, there is considerable potential to develop the business here in many different ways. The pub already has a licence as a wedding venue so the ideal applicant will have an entrepreneurial edge as well as being able to cope with the varied dining demands of the eclectic guest base. A background in a range of catering styles would be a distinct advantage, as would a creative flair for developing alternative income streams such as camping.”
Ian Pearson
Business Development Partner, South West Region
* Fair Maintainable Trade (FMT) is the level of turnover and profit that we believe that the business is capable of delivering if being operated competently. The FMT is usually calculated by the Business Development Partner for the pub, who will produce a shadow profit and loss account for the business which supports the rent. A copy of the shadow profit and loss account will be provided during the recruitment process. Please see our Code of Practice for more information on FMT and rent. The Fair Maintainable Trade is not a guarantee of levels of trade or profit that will be made from the business – we strongly recommend you seek appropriate independent legal and business advice as part of your Business Plan.
† The Full Investment Breakdown for each public house is higher than the minimum investment we will accept because potential Business Partners with the minimum investment available can still be accepted as we are able to offer them financial support for the rest of the monies. The working capital incorporates the purchase of stock, glassware, loose catering effects and valuer fees – please note the number quoted on this website are based on estimates. The exact costs will be determined on the day you take on the public house by independent valuers and stock takers. Please see our Code of Practice for more information about investment.
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