The owners of a thriving vegan restaurant and pub have decided to place their business on the market after four challenging years.

Genna Acourt runs the Harp and Crown pub in Corsham as a family business, which is so loved by locals that the venue was crowned the best restaurant in Wiltshire in the Muddy Stilettos Awards last year.

But last week the pub was listed on the online marketing service businessesforsale with a guide price of £595,000.

Genna explained: “It is very difficult because we’re so busy and it seems a bit counterintuitive, but we have to choose because the family-life ratio is a bit wrong at the moment.

“We’ve tried to staff the kitchen for about four years now but we’ve had no luck. The idea was I’d hire a head chef, but it’s just turned out that I’ve worked four years in the kitchen.

"The business is becoming more and more successful and I can’t work more hours – we’re flat out.

“I also run an animal rescue so we’ve got to the point where we have to choose between staying here or the animal rescue. The animal rescue wins every time.

 “If I could find a head chef that would run the kitchen we would snap their arm off.

The pub has been put up for sale The pub has been put up for sale (Image: businessesforsale) "With Christmas looming we just had to make the choice now. I think most chefs are either doing agency work because the money is better or re-train and go into industries that keep them safer and look after them better.

“It’s universal, not just a problem for us. I did check with others to see if it’s maybe just our location or that we’re a vegan restaurant, but it seems it’s across the board.”

The outdoor space on site The outdoor space on site (Image: businessesforsale) She added: “I’m holding out for a head chef but at the same time I’m hoping for a quick sale as well. I’ve got in our sights that January time it would be lovely to have fresh owners and move on from there.”

The kitchen is currently closed, but staff are running a pop-up kitchen which includes breakfast mornings and help from local chefs to cook up Sunday roasts.

Harp and Crown has recently been refurbished and features a lounge bar, three en-suite bedrooms, a beer garden, a car park and orangery.

Turnover and net profit have not been disclosed on the listing.