Texaco-branded forecourt and post office in Cornwall sold to local developer

Mill Garage, a Texaco-branded forecourt and post office on Cornwall’s south coast, has been sold to a local developer.

The site was owned and run by the Ennor family for over 65 years, who made the decision to sell up to retire.

David and Vanessa Ennor put the site on the market through Christie and Co, and the sale was managed by associate director Jamie Williams. The couple commented: ““We would like to thank Jamie Williams for his time, professionalism and support throughout what proved to be a difficult sale. We appreciate everything he did to help us and we are now looking forward to retirement and a slower pace of life. We also wish the new owner, Daniel all the best for his future plans for the garage.”

Williams added: “This was a challenging process in the middle of the pandemic, but I am delighted to have helped David and Vanessa reach a successful sale. The new owner, Daniel has big plans for the site and I am confident he will make a huge success of it.”

The business operates from a 0.8-acre site on the B3273, the main road into Pentewan village, near St Austell, and comprises four petrol filling pumps, an MOT workshop, convenience store and post office. During their ownership, the Ennor family also developed five self-contained holiday lets to the rear of the property, which benefit from a separate entrace.

The new owner is developer Daniel Mitchelmore. He said: “It’s been a long and difficult purchase but we got there in the end by all being as flexible and helpful as we could. I wish David and Vanessa a happy retirement from all their hard work in running the garage – a 24-7 task. And many thanks to Jamie at Christie & Co for always trying to solve any obstacles in a pleasant, non-hassling way.

“I’m very excited to get the shop and post office up and running later in the year after a revamp, with some significant changes. We will retain the car workshop but there will be no more petrol tanks. In the next two years, I hope to build a new shop and post office, plus some small workshops or a new car repair workshop. We’ll then look to demolish all the existing buildings and build up to eight new houses, a mix of semi-detached and detached. The overall look would be a little Georgian hamlet, while the shop and workshop would look like old cottages.”