Historic Ferryhill pub goes under the hammer for £60,000

A former Ferryhill pub with a history stretching back almost 150 years is to go under the hammer with a guide price of just £60,000.

The former Eldon Arms, which suffered substantial damage in a fire earlier this year, will feature in the online auction from BTG Eddisons Property Auctions on 24-25 August.

The traditional brick-built property on Main Street has around 574 sq m of space across ground and first floors, as well as attic and cellar areas. The 0.4-acre site also includes a former stables building.

The pub was first recorded around 1876, when it was built to serve the growing railway community around Ferryhill Station following the expansion of the Clarence Railway.

Named after the Earl of Eldon, it became a venue for local ratepayer elections and public assemblies and, in later years, hosted meetings of the Ferryhill Local History Society.

From the mid-20th century, the pub was run by Tadcaster-based Samuel Smith Brewery and later became known locally as the training ground of professional darts player Phill Nixon, the “Ferryhill Flyer”, who went on to finish runner-up in the 2007 BDO World Darts Championship.

The Eldon Arms closed during the Covid lockdowns in 2021 and remained vacant until a major fire in January this year caused extensive damage to the upper floors.

Now, the building is being put up for auction with the potential for a new use, subject to the necessary planning and other consents. Auctioneers say its size and layout could make it suitable for residential, commercial or community use, while the site also has the potential for redevelopment.

Adrian Little, director and auctioneer at BTG Eddisons Property Auctions, said: “The Eldon Arms has been an important part of Ferryhill’s history for almost 150 years, and it is certainly a property with a story to tell.

“The building will require significant work following the fire, but it is a substantial site in a well-connected location and there are a number of possible directions a new owner could take it, subject to the necessary consents.

“It will be interesting to see who is prepared to take on the challenge and what plans they have for the property’s next chapter.”

The Eldon Arms is close to the A1(M), with Durham, Darlington and Newcastle all within easy reach.

For more details on the former Eldon Arms, along with viewing arrangements and bidding information, visit www.btgeddisonspropertyauctions.com.

BTG Eddisons Property Auctions is a national property auction business formed through the unification of the regional auction brands Pugh, SDL Property Auctions, Mark Jenkinson and Network Auctions. It offers a wide range of residential and commercial property and land at auction to buyers across the UK.