Derby pub licensees to bid farewell after five years in 'tough' decision

A Derby pub owner who has made the "tough" decision to look for a new licensee has insisted the "best is yet to come" for the prominent watering hole. Anna Heapy-Silander, 41, and her husband, Tim, 54, took the reigns of the Golden Eagle back in the summer of 2019 - not knowing they would be faced with an almighty pandemic-shaped challenge less than a year later.

They spent the time renovating the pub, making it the best it could be and building a brilliant rooftop terrace, before going from strength to strength - building a regular line of customers and putting on live music events every Thursday. But the need for a change in their lives has prompted the couple to conjure a move to Anna's home country, Finland.

While the pub has a steady footfall throughout the week and is very much a successful business, Anna believes that now would be a great time for the pub to be taken over due to the huge new £70 million University of Derby Business School being constructed next door. She believes that once it is complete, the new development could lead to hundreds of new customers each week, with it set to house more than 6,000 students - who are likely to fancy an afternoon tipple more than most.

Speaking on the pair's five years on the busy one-way street, Anna said: "We have put so much time and effort into this pub and we have had some amazing times, but unfortunately it is time to say goodbye. We love coming to the pub and take immense pride in the services we offer, particularly our real ale offerings, which have placed us in the Good Beer Guide on multiple occasions.

"None of this would have been possible without our customers. We genuinely have formed so many lifelong friendships and, although we are excited for the next chapter in our lives, the day we lock the doors for the final time will be incredibly emotional, but we know it is for the best."

The pub's leasehold is being sold at £39,000 per annum plus stock at valuation. A spokesperson for Pepperdine and Freckingham, the estate agent managing the property, said: "This is a detached two-storey brick-built property under a pitched tiled roof with single-storey elevations to the rear.

"It has private vehicular side access for parking for three cars and gated access to the rear beer patio, which is wall-enclosed and paved." Agard Street sits on the outskirts of the inner ring road and is already passed by thousands of motorists each day.

Anna and Tim, who will continue to run the pub for the foreseeable future, hope that the new owners can build on the high quality service and values adopted by the pub since they took over. Anna added: "We would love to see live music continue on Thursdays and we especially want the pub to maintain its status as a great place for real ale.

"There is so much more to develop at the pub. Tim and I both work different jobs away from the pub, so it would be great to see someone come and bring some new additions like a larger food menu; we have a good kitchen, which brings lots of potential to serve a high amount of covers and to build a strong reputation in the area."