A former barber shop famous for having once had bears living in its basement has gone up for sale in Alnwick.
The Bear and Bank House is a five-storey property that contains a commercial space on the ground floor as well as living spaces above.
Its top three floors have been refurbished as residential accomodation, meaning that any potential new owners could run a shop and live above it.
The Bear and Bank House gets its name from its bizarre history, when a Victorian barber reportedly kept bears in the basement. The other half of its name comes from the fact that the building was initially used as a savings bank when it was built in the mid-19th century.
YoungsRPS has brought the Grade II listed property to market, adding that it could be sold to an investor who could lease out the property as a whole or in separate parts. It is being sold freehold for £215,000.
Michael Blake, Director of YoungsRPS said: “With double frontage on to two of the busiest commercial streets in the centre of Alnwick, this really is a gem of a property, and a versatile investment opportunity.
“As there is attractive commercial and workshop space, and three floors of residential accommodation ideal for rental, holiday let or AirBNB, it could be leased out as a whole or as separate parts to create a great return on investment.”
The existing owners have invested heavily in the property and carried out significant changes and repairs to the inside and outside of the building, including separating the commercial space from the residential floors.
Upstairs the property has two bedrooms, a lounge, fitted kitchen and a head height attic room. The infamous basement has also been brought back into use.
The commercial space has an entrance off Fenckle Street and could be used for a number of reasons. It boasts ornamental plasterwork, a stained timber floor and spotlighting throughout, as well as a sink to the rear. The cellar could be used as a workshop or as storage space.
