Historic football location put up for sale with £3.75m asking price

Specialist hospitality property adviser, Christie & Co, has brought to market The Sandon Complex with a £3.75m price tag.

The site is a Liverpool institution famed as the birthplace of both Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs and a key function venue, considered the go-to spot for matchday hospitality.

This world-famous venue has served the local community under various ownerships since the 1870s and holds a special place in Liverpool FC’s history.

Originally owned by the founder of Liverpool Football Club, John Houlding, it was here that the team’s formation documents were signed and where it all began.

Houlding had been involved with the city’s first club, Everton, and secured the site of one of their first grounds, which is now Liverpool’s Anfield stadium.

In 2017, the business was acquired by local businesswoman Kate Stewart and underwent an extensive refurbishment, which transformed the complex inside and out. Under Kate’s stewardship, the venue is thriving once again, trading as a multi bar and function venue and the first official offsite partner of Liverpool FC, providing matchday hospitality just a stone’s throw from Anfield.

Home to five refurbished function rooms and a revamped pub that runs a programme of events and entertainment for the local community, the business remains a fan-favourite for match days.

With capacity for more than 4,500 people spanning across the entire complex, large outdoor screens erected for finals, live music and a wide range of food and drinks on offer all day ahead of kick-off, the atmosphere draws in guests from around the world.

Following the match, guests are also able to stay the night at the recently opened on-site hotel. The Sandon Hotel currently comprises 123 beds across 20 rooms, with planning permissions secured for an additional six further rooms, presenting an opportunity for prospective buyers.

Kate Stewart said: “Since purchasing The Sandon in 2017, I have given it the TLC that it needed, regularly investing in the hospitality suites and creating a 115-bed hotel.

“The Sandon is an institution for football fans, and I have loved welcoming Liverpool FC fans from all over the world, but I’ve made the difficult decision to retire from the hospitality sector after more than 20 years to dedicate more time to my children, three of which are under six years old.

“I will miss The Sandon terribly, but I feel this is the right time to close this chapter and spend more time with my family whilst they are still so young.”

Tom O’Malley, associate director in Christie & Co’s hospitality team, who is handling the sale, said: “With its historical associations and contracts with Liverpool FC, along with its proximity to Anfield stadium, this multi-faceted business is an exciting and rare opportunity.

“We are currently seeing increased demand for wet-led public houses, so we expect the sale to attract attention from a wide variety of buyers.”

The Sandon Complex is currently on the market on a freehold basis, with an asking price of £3.75m.