A LARGE farm shop and café could soon be under new ownership after the property hit the market with a price tag just shy of a million pounds.

Roaming Roosters in Higham, a farm shop which sold free-range meat and had a bistro and coffee shop, closed suddenly in 2018 with no explanation from bosses as to why.

At the time, part-investors of the business, the now defunct Seafood Pub Company, commented saying they had ceased any involvement with the site shortly before it closed.

Now the landowner of the site has decided to put the eight-acre plot of land on the market, with Burnley agents Whiteacres listing the property for sale or to let.

A spokesman for the company said: “The building occupies a highly prominent location fronting Barrowford Road and is suitable for various uses including farm shop, convenience store, restaurant, wedding venue, car or caravans sales or a hair and beauty use (some of which will require a change of use).

“The property comprises a restaurant, commercial kitchen, farm shop with substantial preparation area, first floor coffee shop, staff offices, large barn and several male, female WC facilities.

“Externally there is a substantial car park for approximately 160 vehicles and the site is set in a plot which extends to over eight acres.”

The plot of land and buildings has been listed for either lease or for sale, with a price tag for purchase of £995,000.

The farm shop was opened in 2012 by family butchers Simon and Nick Mellin from Nelson, originally operating with success and catching the eye of East Lancashire businessman Matthew Riley, chief executive of Daisy Group Plc.

Mr Riley, who has appeared as an interviewer on the BBC One business reality show The Apprentice with Lord Sugar, became a shareholder of Roaming Roosters back in March 2016.

But the entrepreneur resigned from the board of directors in October 2017, just four months after £1million expansion plans were submitted to Pendle Council.

In May, the former East Lancashire gastro-pub chain the Seafood Pub Company, who were previously involved with the property, filed for administration as coronavirus ravaged the hospitality industry.

The chain of events forced the closure of several gastropubs in Lancashire and Yorkshire, including the Assheton Arms in Downham and the Oyster and Otter in Blackburn.

Barrowford businesswoman and the company’s owner Joycelyn Neve said she was heartbroken to have not been able to save her business.