Western Morning News, The

A Link to the Qualities Which Attracted Artists

T hroughout the centuries art has always been a subject of profound controversy with supporters and detractors of certain genres repeatedly battling it out over their differences. While that will no doubt continue to be the case for all eternity it seems that there is something in the Cornish art world that just about everyone is in agreement with.

Opportunity for Hands-On Owners ; a Thatched Country Freehouse with Old World Charm has Been Placed On the Market On the Instructions of Heavitree Brewery.

A thatched country freehouse with old world charm has been placed on the market on the instructions of Heavitree Brewery. Stonesmith of Exeter is selling the freehold of The New Inn at Sampford Courtenay, near Okehampton, Devon.

Flagship Development has Set Sustainability Benchmark

S itting on the edge of the busy A30, on the outskirts of Okehampton town centre, it is hard to believe this "rural" business centre boasts such environmentally-friendly credentials. But complete with a six kilowatt (kW) wind turbine, a 45 kW wood pellet boiler, solar PV panels and a sustainable means of drainage to name but a few elements, it is certainly leading by example.

Pounds2.5m Asking Price for Top Five Boutique Hotel

A waterfront hotel in Fowey, which has been voted by the Conde Nast Traveller magazine as one of the top five boutique hotels in Cornwall, is being offered for sale through Christie and Co. The Old Quay House Hotel, which occupies a key position in the centre of the historic town and is a Grade II listed building dating back to 1889, is being marketed at an asking price of pounds2.5 million.

Coming Home to Met Bar ; Cornish Couple Chris and Sarah Comer Have Fulfilled a Dream of Returning to the County by Taking On the Lease of the Met Bar in Newquay.

Cornish couple Chris and Sarah Comer have fulfilled a dream of returning to the county by taking on the lease of the Met Bar in Newquay. Brought to the market by Scott Burridge Commercial, the contemporary bar/restaurant on Cliff Road was sold on a new 20-year lease off an undisclosed premium at an initial rent of pounds50,000 a year.

Popular Country Setting for Functions ; a Country House Hotel in Devon's Taw Valley has Sold Through Christie and Co for an Undisclosed Sum.

A country house hotel in Devon's Taw Valley has sold through Christie and Co for an undisclosed sum. The Fox and Hounds Country Hotel stands in 3.5 acres of attractive grounds, which border the River Taw.

Foreign Players Swoop in On Buy-to-Let Deals

F oreign banks are cleaning up at the higher end of the buy-to- let market, according to wealth manager and investment/mortgage planner HFM Columbus. As traditional UK-based players in the pounds1 million plus end of the BTL world have all but disappeared, the door has been left open for the likes of Sweden's Handlesbanken, Germany's Kleinwort Benson, Israel's Bank Leumi and Switzerland's EFG Bank.

Attractive Investment Offers Near 8% ; a Small Parade of Four Modern Industrial Units Is Being Offered for Sale in Cornwall.

A small parade of four modern industrial units is being offered for sale in Cornwall. The investment opportunity on the Treburley Industrial Estate, near Launceston, is available off an asking price of pounds250,000 through Miller Commercial of Truro.

Estuary Eco-Lodge Will Be a Treat for Twitchers ; Twitchers Are in for a Treat If Plans for a New Cornish Hotel, Specially Designed for Bird Watchers, Gets the Go Ahead.

Twitchers are in for a treat if plans for a new Cornish hotel, specially designed for bird watchers, gets the go ahead. Plymouth-based architect Gilmore Hankey Kirke has submitted a unique planning application to develop an eco-lodge hotel with cafe, restaurant and visitor centre on a stunning site on the Hayle Estuary.

Your Money

In this economic climate most investors are at a standstill with uncertainty on what the future will bring. As I have previously mentioned; regrettably, most people are comfortable investing when markets are good - riding high; selling when they are bad - low. This is the reverse of what should be done! If you were happy to buy into, say, the UK market with the FTSE at 6300, why shouldn't you buy in with it at around 5200 as it is a discount of 18 per cent? With the UK and many global market...

Campaign Growing Over 'Disastrous' Demands

A BACK-bench rebellion is growing over the Government's decision to charge full business rates on empty commercial property. At least 35 MPs, led by Linda Riordan, Labour MP for Halifax, have signed an early day motion (EDM) calling for the tax to be scrapped.

Acquisition Is Key to Law Firm's Growth Plan

W ith the legal sector widely believed to be ripe for consolidation, Stephens Scown - which has deliberately ditched the ampersand - is planning its next move. The Devon and Cornwall law firm has spent 18 months devising a strategy that will ultimately enable it to spread its wings east in Somerset and Dorset. And, says chief executive Andy Steele, that will be achieved by acquisition.

Steve's Daring Jump for Charity

What falls from 10,000 ft at over 100mph? If you are looking for the answer, then you will find it in Steve Bowden, 39, IT manager at South Devon law firm Boyce Hatton. Steve will be making a solo charity parachute jump at Dunkeswell airfield on August 14 in aid of the charity Childline. But what makes Steve's achievement remarkable is that this will be the first time he has ever parachuted, and only the third time he has been in an aeroplane in his life. Steve will be jumping solo from 10,00...

Exeter Firm Sets Legal Precedent with Win ; Westcountry Law Firm Michelmores Llp has Set a Legal Precedent in the Court of Appeal.

Westcountry law firm Michelmores LLP has set a legal precedent in the Court of Appeal. Acting on behalf of the County Homesearch Company, the well known national buying agency with its headquarters in Truro, Exeter-based Michelmores defended an appeal by one of its clients who was trying to avoid paying a pounds44,000 fee after buying a pounds2.3 million home.

Welcome Is Given to Coastal Town Plan ; Christie and Co has Joined Other Parts of the Hospitality Sector in Welcoming the Government's Plans to Invest Pounds10 Million in Three Coastal Towns Including Torbay in Devon.

Christie and Co has joined other parts of the hospitality sector in welcoming the government's plans to invest pounds10 million in three coastal towns including Torbay in Devon. Details of the projects to be funded in Blackpool, Dover and Torbay were announced last week by Culture and Tourism Minister Margaret Hodge.

Four Unit Sale Bucks the Trend ; One of the Largest Commercial Property Investment Deals This Year, has Completed in Plymouth with the Sale of Breakwater Works, Plymstock, to Yacht Havens, Owner of the Adjoining Marina.

One of the largest commercial property investment deals this year, has completed in Plymouth with the sale of Breakwater Works, Plymstock, to Yacht Havens, owner of the adjoining marina. The block of four industrial units totally 45,280 sq ft have tenants including the Royal Mail, Plumb Centre and Western Electrical.

Redevelopment Potential in Busy Town Centre ; Substantial Freehold Premises in the Popular and Busy Trading Area of Queen Street, Newton Abbot Have Come On to the Market.

Substantial freehold premises in the popular and busy trading area of Queen Street, Newton Abbot have come on to the market. They offer mixed commercial and residential development potential and are close to nearby occupiers including Argos and Costcutter.

Finance Matters

Family businesses make up a large proportion of the business community in the South West. The family relationship can strengthen the business, but can also cause problems. Succession planning can be particularly difficult, for a number of reasons, and careful planning is essential to minimise problems that may arise.

Mortgage Rate Cuts Bring Glimmer of Hope ; Mortgage Rate Cuts Have Delivered Hope That the Property Squeeze May Be Easing but the Cost of Fixed Rate Security Remains High.

Mortgage rate cuts have delivered hope that the property squeeze may be easing but the cost of fixed rate security remains high. High street lenders including Halifax, Nationwide, HSBC and Britannia have all begun to cut mortgage rates, as the cost of funding has slipped back over recent weeks.

Insurer Warns Homeowners On Adequate Cover ; As Uk Families Brace Themselves for What Is Turning Out to Be Another Cold and Damp Summer, Leading Financial Services Provider the Co-Operative Insurance Is Warning Homeowners to Be Prepared for Those Unexpected Deluges.

As uk families brace themselves for what is turning out to be another cold and damp summer, leading financial services provider The Co-operative Insurance is warning homeowners to be prepared for those unexpected deluges. Last year's summer downpour left scores of Brits stranded and facing severe financial hardship, with estimates, for the 185,000 claims, setting the damage at more than pounds3 billion.