THE FORMER English Wine Centre and Cuckmere Barns leisure, retail and hospitality premises at Berwick, near Polegate has been sold.

The centre was among 116 lots in the auction held by Britain’s largest independent regional land and property auctioneer Clive Emson Land and Property Auctioneers.

It was offered at Clive Emson’s Sussex and Surrey regional sale in Brighton on Wednesday, February 6, initially as one lot with a freehold guide price of £1.2 million to £1.3 million.

However, the property in Alfriston Road, which was for sale following the retirement of the owners, was sold prior to the auction to two separate purchasers.

One buyer snapped up three barns and a pavilion on the 2.24-acre (0.89-hectare) landscaped site in a rural setting overlooking the South Downs, with a second purchaser acquiring a semi-detached cottage.

Auctioneer Richard Payne said: “This sale generated a great deal of interest within the community and further afield and I was not surprised to see it snapped up early.

“We thought it a fantastic opportunity to acquire a multi-faceted leisure, hospitality and retail premises, established in 1972 and in a prominent location off the A27.

“The intended use by the purchasers is unknown, however we also considered that there is potential to provide additional residential accommodation, subject to all the necessary consents being available.”

Clive Emson holds eight rounds of auctions each year at five locations from Essex to Cornwall on consecutive days.

The second round of Clive Emson’s regional Sussex and Surrey auctions for 2019 takes place at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on Wednesday, March 20 at 11am. Closing date for entries in February 18.

The firm also stages an online auction, complementing the existing live auctions. See www.cliveemson.co.uk/online for details.