The Golden Hind in Brixham, England

A leading South West England tourist attraction, a rare replica of Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hind Tudor Galleon, is for sale.

The full-size replica Tudor galleon, one of only two in existence, attracts thousands of tourists to Brixham Harbour, Devon every year.

Brixham’s Treasure, as the Golden Hind is known, is reluctantly being sold by owner, Neil Worrell, after the death of his wife and business partner, Jackie Robinson in January. It is for sale for offers over £399,000 through South West commercial agents Bettesworths.

Bettesworths Director, Stephen Lofthouse says, “This sale represents a unique opportunity to acquire a well-established, easily-managed leisure business in the heart of Brixham. The town is a tourist hotspot and one of the most famous fishing ports in England. The business is being sold for only the second time in 45 years. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a fascinating and fun business with potential for growth.”

The museum ship was built in 1988 to replace a replica used in the 1960s BBC TV series, Sir Francis Drake, which sank in rough seas. As well as being a top tourist attraction, the iconic ship, which features a heavy-duty steel hull, is also a popular educational centre for school pupils and history students.

Neil and Jackie significantly enhanced the appeal of the museum ship, creating fun family visitor events including Pirate Thursdays, Walk the Plank and Spot the Skulls searches, rope tying and hauling, and realistic displays and artifacts depicting the life and epic voyages of Sir Francis Drake. They also invented popular ship mascot, ‘Sid the Skeleton’.

Mr Worrell says the Golden Hind provides a rare opportunity for new owners looking for a lucrative leisure attraction that provides a fascinating, fun and profitable lifestyle.

“Jackie and I have enjoyed operating and restoring this amazing attraction and significantly enhancing the visitor experience. We were delighted when the ship won a coveted Devon Tourism Award and Herald Express Award last year.

“The Golden Hind has played a pivotal role in Brixham for more than half a century and we want it to continue to benefit the town.

“As this is a unique opportunity, we hope it will attract strong interest from potential owners from around the world. It is ideal for those who have experience or interest in tourism, history and sailing, as well as those looking for a fulfilling lifestyle and profitable investment in an established, high-profile Brixham business.”

Part of the proceeds of the sale of the ship will be donated to charity in memory of Jackie, says Mr Worrell. “Jackie sadly left us far too early at the age of 56 from a tumour. We have set up a charitable ‘Jackie Fund’ in her name and five per cent of the sale proceeds will be donated to local and national charities.”

Sir Francis Drake, who was born in Tavistock, Devon, was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe from 1577-1580. On 1 March 1579, in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Ecuador, Golden Hind challenged and captured the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de la Concepción containing more than 360,000 pesos (equivalent to around £480million in 2017). The six tons of treasure was the largest haul captured to date and took six days to unload. When the Golden Hind arrived back in England more than half its bounty went to Queen and country and was enough to pay back its national debt. The original Golden Hind was permanently moored at King Henry VIII’s dockyard Deptford on the Thames Estuary, where Queen Elizabeth I had requested it be placed on permanent display as the first museum ship. In around 1650 it rotted away and was broken up.

The replica is now the centrepiece for many Brixham festivals, including the famous Pirate Festival in May. It is also in demand for film and TV appearances and has most recently appeared on BBC TV’s The One Show and Channel 4’s Fantastical Food, with gourmet chef, Heston Blumenthal.

Anyone interested in buying the Golden Hind and the associated business should contact South West commercial agents Bettesworths on +44 (0)1803 212021.

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