by Conrad Robins | Jun 19, 2025
Project: Start-up unique hospitality venue and golf driving range
Facility: £600,000 development loan
Purpose: Fund the building costs of a new leisure and hospitality venue
Background – From family farm to hospitality venture
Halwyn, situated on the North Cornish coast, offers a unique visitor experience with a 15-bay state-of-the-art Trackman-equipped golf range, a mini-golf course, and rustic feasting barns with glorious views over the Crantock countryside. The project is the brainchild of Will Eustice, a professional quantity surveyor who saw an opportunity to transform his family’s farm in Crantock into something extraordinary.
Challenge – Securing development finance for a start-up business
Will was seeking £600,000 to support the build costs. Securing finance for this project posed difficulties, as it represented a unique requirement: a development loan for a start-up business. The combination of an untested leisure business, commercial development, and start-up model rendered it an unconventional case for most traditional lenders.
Solution – A flexible and merit-based approach
However, we found a lender willing to take a flexible and merit-based approach to underwriting, assessing the project based on its substance and the strength of Will’s background. In fact, the lender was so convinced of the project’s merits that it didn’t request a formal valuation, and we secured a two-year loan facility to be drawn down in stages.
Outcome – A flagship Cornish destination
With the necessary funds in place, Will and his family were able to proceed with the farm’s transformation and bring their ambitious leisure and hospitality vision to life.
Conrad Robins and Jeannie Cain of ASC visited Halwyn as the project was nearing completion to receive a full guided tour from Will, a proud client with an inspiring attention to detail. Every element of Halwyn has been considered, from the customer experience to food quality, utilising locally sourced produce, and, of course, the golfer!
The venue will provide a great family day out as well as a hub for golf, business hospitality and corporate events.
by Conrad Robins | Oct 9, 2024
Background – A once-popular Dorset pub was looking for new life under fresh ownership.
The Clockhouse Inn in Chideock, near Bridport, closed its doors in December 2023 and was put up for sale by its long-term owners. Its new owners, Matt and Alex Mawhood, will now breathe new life into the pub after securing the finance to buy their dream business. The couple approached us via the selling agent, Michael Easton, at Vickery Holman, needing to secure a loan of £265,000 to buy the pub and realise their ambition of becoming landlords.
Challenges – Securing finance for a recently closed pub proved difficult.
Their request was challenging as the pub had been closed for several months. Also, while Matt and Alex had relevant experience, they hadn’t operated a pub or run a business before. Neither of these facts made the loan an attractive prospect to most lenders. However, we were selective about who we approached, and we put a good case forward, supported by a thorough business plan from the couple.
Solution -Identified the right lender and helped present a strong business case.
With our help, Matt and Alex secured a loan of £265,000 (60% of the purchase price) to buy the pub. They’re now the proud new landlords and are busy preparing to reopen the historic pub.
Outcome – A successful purchase, a new beginning, and a dream realised.
“Anthony at ASC was incredibly helpful and informative even before we went ahead with his services, which is why we wanted to use ASC. This was our first time in getting this type of mortgage and Anthony gave us lots of guidance, patience and help throughout. Most importantly, he didn’t give up on us, and after multiple rejections from the mainstream lenders, he was able to source us a suitable lender who also believed in our vision, just like Anthony did.
Thanks to Anthony and ASC, we are fulfilling our dream and now own our very own free house pub in Dorset! We can’t thank you enough, Anthony and team – cheers to you!”
– Alex Mawhood, The Clock House Inn
You don’t have to look far to find news articles highlighting the sector’s difficulty. Stories of various pub closures are published weekly, citing a reduction in footfall, rising operating costs, and other concerns.
At ASC, we have direct experience and expertise in hospitality, which allows us to present a viable proposition to lenders despite their cautious view of the sector. Working with the right commercial finance broker is really the only way to secure the right finance.
by Conrad Robins | Jan 18, 2024
Background – The client’s situation before ASC became involved
Our client, a pub owner struggling with rising mortgage repayment costs, was introduced to us by a residential mortgage broker. As the loan was becoming unaffordable, they needed help restructuring the debt, but they’d lost confidence in their original broker.
Challenges – Rising costs and a misleading loan agreement
A few years ago, our client had sourced finance to buy the freehold of their pub via a commercial finance broker who was one of their customers. They thought they’d taken out a repayment mortgage on a fixed rate. However, they hadn’t read the small print, and the mortgage was actually interest-only on a variable rate, with a fixed margin over the base rate. With the base rate increasing, their monthly payments were rising and becoming more challenging to cover. Luckily, they then spoke to Alister at ASC Kent.
Solution – How ASC helped restructure the client’s finances
We met with the clients to understand their situation and ease their concerns about using a broker again. With a full brief, we researched the market and found a suitable repayment mortgage that was actually cheaper than their interest-only arrangement.
We managed the entire remortgage process on behalf of our client to ensure a smooth transaction and avoid them being let down for a second time.
Outcome – A stronger financial future for the business
Our client now pays less per month despite reducing the loan capital with a repayment mortgage! As well as paying off their loan, this situation has strengthened their cashflow and put them in a more stable financial position – a welcome scenario given the unpredictable nature of the hospitality sector.
We were delighted to be able to help our client out of a tricky financial situation and have this note of caution – avoid taking financial advice from your mate at the pub!
by Conrad Robins | Feb 15, 2022
Background – Rethinking EasyPZ Stay during challenging times
The Cliffe family, father Dick, son Simon and his partner were operating the thriving EasyPZ Stay backpacking business in Penzance, Cornwall until they hit a couple of significant bumps in their road. Sadly, Simon’s relationship had broken down at the same time as their bank loan facility reached the end of its term, and then to compound matters, the global pandemic arrived!
Trading during Covid restrictions and beyond with limitations on multi-occupation rooms obliged the partners to rethink and restyle the business in a unique way as a hybrid of a B&B and hostel.
The plan was to offer friendly, relaxed, and social accommodation to the market, appealing to those who enjoyed active outdoor pursuits, including walking, surfing and cycling for which the business was ideally located. Whilst travelling in Sri Lanka, Simon had the good fortune to meet his new partner, Maria. Originally from Sweden, she shares his desire to run a sustainable, eco-friendly business and with father Dick stepping aside to enjoy more free time, Maria has also brought a strong sense of Swedish “fika” to EasyPZ Stay and Cornwall!
Challenges – When funding stalls and plans are disrupted
Negotiations with their funders were “not getting anywhere” according to Dick, despite good performance prior to Covid, so he sought help and following a professional recommendation, this arrived in the accomplished form of Conrad Robins at ASC.
Solution – Expert support from ASC to secure new terms
Armed with the revised business model prepared by the partners to cover the Covid period and its aftermath, Conrad applied his extensive knowledge and experience in the lending market, and perhaps somewhat surprisingly for his clients, Conrad identified that the current lender was indeed the best match.
Conrad was able to demonstrate to the bank that the remodelled business was indeed viable, and he succeeded not only in obtaining agreement for a new facility but on improved terms and with no additional loan fees!
Outcome – A successful restart for EasyPZ Stay
EasyPZ Stay was born! “A very good outcome indeed”, according to Dick, “ASC’s service was very good, faultless in fact!”
It happens more often than people think that we are able to encourage a lender to revisit a decision by presenting a well-considered and viable business plan, that is exactly what Conrad did here. It is a good reminder of the value that a broker can add.
If you want to find out more about EasyPZ Stay and the Cliffe family, follow them on Instagram or check out their website.
[* (in Swedish custom) a break from activity during which people drink coffee, eat cakes or other light snacks, and relax with others]
by Conrad Robins | Oct 6, 2021
Background – Helping a client refinance a holiday caravan site
Andre Dent, Director of ASC Cambridgeshire, has helped a client secure a refinance of their holiday home/caravan site with fishing lakes. ASC always wants to add value to its clients and help with their finance, but in this case the success for Andre was even sweeter because the client’s previous arrangement was not getting the best for the client, it was not working and was too expensive.
Challenges – Navigating post-Covid lending market hurdles
Despite the difficulties that Covid presented to the lending market and the financial appetite of lenders, ASC Cambridgeshire alongside Andre were able to secure £1.4m in finance for a commercial mortgage saving the client thousands of pounds.
Solution – Delivering a tailored commercial finance package
Andre comments, “We all had to be patient, resilient and focused on the client to keep the deal on track. A superb ASC & client relationship is what pulled us through.”
Outcome – A successful refinance and grateful client feedback
Feedback from the client was also great as he comments, “Wow, I can’t believe it’s actually done! Thanks for all your help and involvement to get it over the line, I can honestly say we would probably still be trying if it was not for your pushing.”
At ASC, we know how small businesses operate and are able to access key lenders which enables us to offer attractive and intelligent solutions to business finance needs. Whilst we focus on arranging the right finance for your business, you can focus on operating and developing your business.
