THE SUN INN GREAT EASTON LIMITED

What THE SUN INN GREAT EASTON LIMITED does

The Sun Inn Great Easton Limited is a privately-held, owner-operated boutique hospitality business operating a single 17th-century inn under the trading name "The Sun Inn" in Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, England. The legal entity is James Thomas Black Limited (company number 10446934), owned by Iain and Jenny Black, who acquired the property in 2017. The inn offers 11 boutique bedrooms across Standard, Superior, Deluxe, and Large Deluxe categories, all located on the first and second floors, and operates an AA two-rosette restaurant and bar led by Head Chef Joe Robinson. The kitchen serves lunch daily and dinner Thursday through Monday, with a 12.5% discretionary service charge added to meal bills, and the bar is open all day every day.

Revenue is generated from five principal streams: nightly room rates (B&B), restaurant and bar covers, celebration and add-on packages (champagne, flowers, chocolates, Furry Friend Hamper at £30-£105 each), gift vouchers (£10-£250 denominations), and event hosting (weddings, corporate, wakes, up to 80 guests). Pricing is seasonal and tiered, with multi-night break packages spanning Standard through Large Deluxe at £120-£380 per night. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the sun-inn.info website (WooCommerce storefront, High-Level Software booking engine), phone, and walk-in trade, with Dishcult used for restaurant reservations and SagePay for card processing. The customer base is fragmented across leisure staycation travellers, corporate event organisers, celebration parties, and pet owners, with a distinct dog-friendly brand built around 8 dog-friendly rooms, complimentary Pooch Packs, and a resident dog blog.

The business is small (12 employees, including a six-person kitchen team), has no disclosed revenue, has not raised external funding, and shows no subsidiaries, M&A, or geographic expansion activity. Competitive positioning rests on heritage building character, AA 5-star accommodation rating, AA Two Rosettes, an established dog-friendly brand recognised by Visit England (2016 Highly Commended) and Country Life (Top 10), and a curated calendar of seasonal packages running into 2026.

Name

THE SUN INN GREAT EASTON LIMITED

Legal name

James Thomas Black Limited

Website

https://sun-inn.info

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Historic 17th-century boutique inn in Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, with 11 AA 5-star bedrooms and a two-rosette restaurant serving leisure travellers, event hosts, and pet owners under owner-operator Iain and Jenny Black.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boutique Inn and Hospitality

NAICS

Bed-and-Breakfast Inns (721191)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury B&Bs & Upscale Inns (THAGAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Romantic / Couples B&Bs & Inns (THAGAHAI), Adults-Only B&Bs & Inns (THAGAHAK)

Keywords

• Boutique inn accommodation
• Bed and breakfast hospitality
• Restaurant and bar dining
• Dog-friendly hotel services
• Wedding and event venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Kirkby Lonsdale

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Bed and Breakfast Accommodation: Overnight accommodation with 11 boutique bedrooms available 7 days per week. Room types include Standard, Superior, Deluxe, and Large Deluxe with various amenities. Revenue from nightly room rates plus additional charges for dogs.
2. Restaurant and Bar: AA two rosette restaurant serving lunch, dinner, and Sunday lunches. Bar operates daily. Kitchen open Thursday to Monday. A 12.5% discretionary service charge added to meal bills.
3. Celebration Packages and Treats: Celebration Package at £105 includes Prosecco, chocolate strawberries, flowers, and luxury toiletries. Additional revenue from Champagne, flowers, chocolates, and Furry Friend Hamper products.
4. Gift Vouchers: Gift vouchers available in denominations from £10 to £250, valid for 12 months, redeemable for accommodation, food, and drink.
5. Event Hosting: Weddings, parties, corporate events, wakes, and funerals. Venues accommodate up to 80 people. Catering and bar services included.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Sun Inn is a 17th-century boutique inn in Kirkby Lonsdale offering eleven AA 5-star-rated bedrooms on a bed and breakfast basis (Standard, Superior, Deluxe, and Large Deluxe categories), an AA two-rosette restaurant and bar serving locally sourced lunch and dinner, and event hosting for weddings, parties, corporate events, and wakes accommodating up to 80 guests. The business also offers seasonal break packages, celebration add-ons (champagne, flowers, chocolates, dog hampers), and gift vouchers.

Product overview

The Sun Inn is a traditional 17th-century inn offering boutique accommodation and dining services. The core offering consists of eleven AA 5-star-rated bedrooms (Standard, Superior, Deluxe, and Large Deluxe categories) and an AA two-rosette restaurant led by Head Chef Joe Robinson. The business operates on a bed and breakfast model with dinner, bed and breakfast rates available. Add-on products include celebration packages (flowers, champagne, chocolates, Furry Friend Hamper), special stay packages (4 Day Explorer Break, Celebration Break, Seasonal Breaks), and event hosting for weddings, corporate functions, and wakes. Dog-friendly accommodation is a notable offering with dedicated rooms and amenities. The inn does not have an on-site car park but provides free parking permits for guests.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Boutique Bed & Breakfast Accommodation Eleven luxurious boutique bedrooms across Standard, Superior, Deluxe, and Large Deluxe categories, available on bed and breakfast basis 7 days per week. Features include pillowtop mattresses, en-suite bathrooms with Bath House toiletries, flat-screen TVs, coffee machines, and free Wi-Fi. Holds AA 5-star rating and AA Breakfast Award.

Quantifiable outcome

• AA 5-star rating maintained under current ownership since 2017
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Animal Rescue CumbriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sun Inn has been working in partnership with Animal Rescue Cumbria over the last year to raise money for dogs and cats in need. Fundraising has been achieved through sales of homemade dog biscuits (available to buy in the bar) and through organised dog walks. Over £600 has been raised so far. The inn also organises guided walks around Kirkby Lonsdale led by staff to raise money for the charity.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Samling Hotel: Luxury boutique hotel on the shores of Lake Windermere offering fine dining and high-end accommodation. Comparable on Lake District location, premium dining credentials, and small-property luxury positioning, though at a higher price point.
• Rothay Manor Hotel: Family-run boutique country house hotel in Ambleside, Lake District, with award-winning restaurant and similar 20-30 room scale. Comparable to The Sun Inn on owner-operated model, AA-rated dining, romance and dog-friendly positioning, and Lake District catchment.
• The Inn at Whitewell: Boutique country inn and restaurant overlooking the Hodder Valley in Lancashire, a few miles from The Sun Inn. Comparable as a historic, owner-operated rural inn with restaurant, event hosting, and dog-friendly credentials in the same regional tourism catchment between the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales.
• The Gilpin Hotel & Lake House: Family-owned luxury boutique hotel and restaurant near Windermere with Michelin-recognised dining. Comparable on owner-operated model, Lake District positioning, award-winning culinary reputation, and small-property premium positioning.
• The Punch Bowl Inn, Crosthwaite: Boutique 9-bedroom inn in the Lake District known for owner-operated hospitality and award-winning restaurant. Comparable to The Sun Inn on small-inn scale, AA-rated dining, romantic and boutique positioning in Cumbria.
• The Pheasant Inn, Cumbria: 17th-century coaching inn at the foot of the Pennines near the Lake District, offering boutique bedrooms, restaurant dining, and event space. Directly comparable to The Sun Inn on historic character, F&B-led proposition, and rural Cumbria/Lake District staycation positioning.
• The Royal Hotel, Kirkby Lonsdale: Historic hotel located directly in Kirkby Lonsdale on the same market street as The Sun Inn. The most direct geographic competitor, offering similar boutique accommodation, restaurant, and event services to overlapping guest segments.
• Another Place, The Lake: Boutique Lake District hotel with restaurant, multiple room types, and active outdoor/walking positioning. Comparable on Lake District catchment, walking/activity-led guest segment, and boutique F&B-anchored proposition.
• Augill Castle: Family-run small castle hotel in Cumbria between the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales offering dinner-inclusive stays and event hosting. Comparable on owner-operated boutique scale, historic character property, and same regional tourism catchment.
• The Wild Boar Inn: Historic Lake District inn offering bedrooms, grill-style restaurant, and event spaces. Comparable as a similarly sized country inn with F&B-led guest experience and same tourism geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-sun-inn-great-easton-limited

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about THE SUN INN GREAT EASTON LIMITED