A Historic High Street Pub with a Strong Community Following
Step into a well‑known market town local with character, music and food at its heart
Planned Investment
Subject to full approval, we are planning to create a permanent covered area in the beer garden, with sliding doors opening onto the open grass. This will connect directly to the bar and create a flexible hybrid space suitable for events, live music, social gatherings and functions.
The plans also include the addition of an outside bar, giving scope for live bands, drinks‑focused events and increased use of the garden throughout the year.
The Pub
The Golden Lion is a historic pub full of character, with a strong reputation locally. Established in 1535, the Golden Lion began life as a coaching inn and is proudly the oldest pub in Hoddesdon. Legend has it that Henry VIII once stored his saddle in the stables here, having been forbidden to ride by those in authority.
The main trading space is arranged over one ground‑floor level, with a second level providing a cosier dining area.
Oak beams run throughout the pub, reinforcing its traditional feel. Food plays an important role, with around 18 covers in the dining room and a loyal following for Sunday roasts. Live music is also a key part of the offer and helps drive regular footfall.
Outside, the pub currently benefits from a spacious south‑west facing garden with a sheltered patio, alongside a large rear car park.
Location
Situated on the High Street in Hoddesdon, the Golden Lion sits at the heart of an attractive and historic market town in southeast Hertfordshire.
Hoddesdon itself is an attractive and well-kept historic town , granted market and fair charters by Henry III in 1253, large areas of the town are now a conservation area, featuring beautiful buildings and inns dating back to the 16th century.
The town centre offers a busy mix of shops, restaurants, cafés and amenities, along with a regular market, theatre, museum and green spaces. This creates a lively backdrop and consistent footfall throughout the week. Hoddesdon also benefits from strong transport links, including easy access to the A10 and nearby rail connections.
Ideal Publican
This opportunity would suit either a local operator or someone keen to become fully embedded in the Hoddesdon community.
Experience of organising entertainment, building repeat trade and keeping the atmosphere fresh will be key. There is scope to deliver food throughout the day and at peak times such as Sundays and during the summer, so it is ideal if you have some experience in catering or food operations.
Accommodation
The pub includes three private bedrooms, along with a private kitchen and lounge.
About the Agreement
At Punch, we support talented, ambitious entrepreneurs who want to run brilliant pubs at the heart of their communities. That’s why our agreements are designed to be flexible, supportive and built around your vision.
Our Flexible Tenancy gives you the freedom to run your own pub with confidence. A tied agreement of up to five years, where you’ll benefit from the drink products available to Punch which also offers flexible notice periods. We offer flexible deposits, tie‑release options, and pricing structures to help you shape your business in a way that works for you.
Why Choose Punch?
When you partner with Punch, you’ll have an entire support system behind you, including:
- A forward thinking pub company, recognised nationally with multiple industry awards including winners of the Publican Awards 2022 & 2024!
- Potential investment to unlock your pub’s full potential
- Industry leading training through our award winning Academy, complete with state of the art kitchens, bars and our immersive Progress with Punch training programme.
- Access to our powerful online platform, the Punch Buying Club, where you can order stock and find resources to help you run your pub successfully.
- Ongoing coaching from expert Operations Managers and specialist support teams.
- Innovative digital learning through THIRST, our gamified online training app, offering compliance training through to driving sales training.
- A commitment to “Doing Well, By Doing Good” by championing communities, wellbeing and sustainability at every step.
Curious about how this agreement could work for you? You will find our Partnering with Punch guide in the ‘Relevant Downloads’ section below.
Chat to a recruitment advisor now about this pub business opportunity.
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