Tudor museum put on the market for £275k

By James Smith

25th Feb 2024 | Local News

Tudor World on Sheep Street in Stratford-upon-Avon is up for sale (images via SWNS)
Tudor World on Sheep Street in Stratford-upon-Avon is up for sale (images via SWNS)

A local history attraction which has first opened over 20 years ago is on the lookout for a new owner.

Tudor World in Stratford-upon-Avon is on the market with Veritas Business Sales Ltd for £275,000, with the advert saying the owners want to sell to "enjoy a well deserved retirement".

The Solihull-based agent says the annual turnover is £250,000, and the business has three years left on its lease at the historic Shrieve's House.

"Veritas Business sales are privileged to offer to the market this amazing Tudor Tourist Attraction which is located in the highly desirable town of Stratford Upon Avon," the advert said.

"The business has been trading since 2002 and has been in the careful hands of the current owners since October 2007.

"They are now offering the business for sale so that they can enjoy a well deserved retirement.

"Since ownership they have kept the property in good order and the business comes with an array of props along fixtures and fittings which are all bought and paid for.

"Due to extensive renovations there will not be a need to spend any capital for some time to come."

Janet and John Ford have run Tudor world for nearly two decades (image via SWNS)

The Sheep Street attraction is said to have a "prominent" location and also includes accommodation for the new owners including five bedrooms and parking.

Tudor World was last summer embroiled in a bizarre turf war with a separate history attraction in the town.

Married couple Janet and John Ford, who own the business, were at loggerheads with Joe Rukin - from Kenilworth - who runs Sinister Stratford ghost tours.

Both offer holidaymakers tours of Stratford-upon-Avon's spookiest landmarks.

A bitter war of words had erupted after the Fords accused Mr Rukin of touting for business outside their museum in Stratford-upon-Avon - with his tours starting just 100 yards away.

Joe Rukin from Kenilworth began running his tours in January 2023 (image via SWNS)

Relations descended further after a mix-up on TripAdvisor meant Tudor World customers were directed to their rivals website.

In a further twist, an online glitch also wrongly identified The Ford's 12th century Shrieve's House as Sinister Stratford's headquarters.

The Fords said they felt "like mugs" and accused Mr Rukin of skulduggery.

Mr Rukin, 49, who started the tours in January 2023 to supplement his earnings from walking tours in Coventry, hit back and accused the Fords of running a "vicious victimisation campaign".

Tudor World first opened in 2002 (image via SWNS)

He said: "Tudor World are trying to drum me out of town for something that isn't my fault at all.

"The reality is that TripAdvisor cocked up. I've been verbally abused while doing my tours. It's become rather farcical. All I'm doing is trying to earn a living.

"Mr and Mrs Ford don't have a monopoly on conducting tours. I don't have a permanent office and I have to meet my customers somewhere."

The father-of-one, from Kenilworth, says the mix-up occurred when the review website accidentally allocated his business in Shrieve's House.

TripAdvisor corrected the error.

See the full business listing here.

     

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