Black & White Bridging funds purchase of Grade 2 listed public house in Norfolk

19 October 2026

Specialist lender Black & White Bridging have provided a first charge commercial bridge and a second charge residential bridge to fund the purchase of a traditional English country pub in the Norfolk village of Swanton Morley.

The borrower, a husband and wife team, will use the funds to purchase the Grade 2 listed building, which dates back as early as 1610, before making some minor refurbishments and re-opening the pub. The duo also plans to let the upper parts of the pub to third parties, maximising the building’s potential.

The £244,000 facility combined a first-charge commercial bridge secured against the pub with a second-charge residential bridge, using both properties to support the purchase. This bespoke, specialist structure enabled the borrowers to access the funding required to complete the acquisition, with the additional residential security helping to bridge the funding gap. The loan was introduced to Matt Yates, Relationship Director at Black & White, by broker Aaron Blackwell.

Matt Yate, Relationship Director at Black & White Bridging said:

“Pubs face many challenges in today’s economy with rising costs – as things stand Britain loses one pub per day and it’s estimated that 5,000 jobs will be lost this year as a result of the closures. We’re proud to be supporting businesses that are working hard to keep industries buoyant, and in this case, providing proper specialist funding for a lovely country pub in Swanton Morley.”

Broker Aaron Blackwell added:

“Businesses need lenders who are prepared to back them, and that’s exactly what Black & White have done with this facility. The specialist nature of the structure has enabled flexibility for the borrowers, and it’s pleasing to be able to help get this pub back to its former glory, it’s a fantastic historical pub and a real part of the local community.”