THE Anchor Inn at Nayland, on the Suffolk-Essex border, has been purchased by Exclusive Inns, which also acquired the Angel in nearby Stoke-by-Nayland in March last year.

The 15th Century riverside property in Nayland includes a bar, first floor restaurant rooms, a riverside deck for al fresco drinks or dining and its own smokehouse.

Philip Griffiths, managing director of Exclusive Inns, said the company planned to refurbish the Anchor while ensuring that the inn retained its character and remained “at the centre of the local community”.

“Exclusive Inns Ltd believes in retaining and building on the individual character of each of our sites, something we have already done successfully at The Angel Inn, just a few miles away at Stoke-by-Nayland,” he said.

“We shall aim to ensure that The Anchor Inn remains at the centre of the local community in Nayland and the surrounding area, while at the same time introducing our core values of excellence and customer service.

“By doing so, and also undertaking a refurbishment project, we plan to raise standards significantly, offering an exciting range of locally sourced and freshly prepared food and cask ales.

“Our aim is to consistently deliver high levels of customer service, in a relaxed informal style coupled with ensuring value for money.

“Given the stunning riverside location of The Anchor Inn, we are confident we can deliver an appealing customer experience and make it one of the top destination country inns in the region.”

The Ipswich office of national business agents Christie & Co was involved the deals for both the Anchor and the Angel.

Bill Colquhoun, the director at Christie & Co who handled the latest deal said: “We are delighted to have acquired the Anchor Inn for Exclusive Inns. We believe it is a perfect fit for both the company’s ethos and in terms of location; it complements the nearby stunning Angel Inn.”