One of Cumbria's most famous tea rooms has gone up for sale - with offers in the region of £2.5m.

Granny Dowbekin’s, at Pooley Bridge, is on sale after its owner decided to focus on his writing career.

Businessman Colin Hindle has appointed commercial property specialist Colliers to market the tearoom, which includes a tiered riverside tea garden and two high quality self-catering holiday letting apartments.

He has decided swap his apron - and famous Pooley ‘Gingerbridge’ biscuits - for a pair of walking boots and a sketchbook in order to concentrate on a sequel to his successful illustrated book The Best of Lakeland Views (Volume 1), which was inspired by, and is a companion to, Alfred Wainwright’s famous collection.

Colin said: “After such an amazing response to The Best Lakeland Views, I realised I wanted to devote the next six years to drawing and writing books two, three and four.

"Strangely, thanks to the various lockdowns, I’ve now had the time to really invest myself in this project and I want to see it through.

“Granny D's has now developed into the business I dreamed it could be, a real destination tea room and tea garden, run by a talented team who really, really care about the proper food and service that they provide.

"The site has been in constant development since 2013, and its completion has coincided serendipitously with the finishing of the stunning new bridge next to us.

"It is a credit to the team that Granny D's is in the top two per cent of venues on Trip Advisor in the Lake District for breakfast and lunch.”

Haydn Spedding, consultant at Colliers, said: “The Lake District is renowned for its tearooms, but Granny Dowbekin’s at Pooley Bridge is arguably the most iconic.

“It is superbly located in a prime tourist location near the brand new bridge built to replace the one that was washed away in 2015 when Storm Desmond caused heavy flooding in Cumbria, and has magnificent views over the bridge, river and Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District.

“In addition to the very popular tea room which extends to 82 covers and tea garden with 110 covers, generating an annual turnover of around £1m, there are two high quality self-catering holiday letting apartments with stunning river views, generating further revenue.”

Colin acquired Granny Dowbekin’s in 2000 and, during his ownership, he has transformed the business. He has also invested significantly in the property, which dates back to the 17th century and was originally a cottage and a blacksmith’s shop which were extended in the 1800s and became a café and guest house in the early 1900s.

For more information visit www.grannydowbekins.co.uk or to view the sale listing visit www.colliers.com