Specialist commercial lender First Merchant Finance has launched a unique ‘Hospitality Mortgage’ for freehold businesses in several niche sectors.

The launch will be supported by a seminar held at First Merchant’s headquarters in Kingston-upon-Thames, where guest speakers and attendees will be able to discuss the new product and the finer points of hospitality finance.

The Surrey-based lender will offer loans for freehold businesses in the licensed, catering and leisure sectors of up to 75 per cent LTV.

Borrowers can obtain anywhere between £100,000 and £1 million of funding, with repayment terms available for up to ten years.

The family-run firm, which was established in 1995 by a team who still serve on the Board of Directors, already offers a range of loans secured against both leasehold and freehold businesses including restaurants, hotels, supermarkets and petrol stations.

The product will be discussed at a Hospitality Mortgage Seminar hosted by the lender on Wednesday 7th November at its Kingston-upon-Thames headquarters.

Guest speakers present will include: Caroline Fitzpatrick, Partner at Adler Fitzpatrick Solicitors; Trevor Watson, Director of Valuations at Davis Coffer Lyons; Martin Norwood, Principal at Woodside Business Support; and Independent Financial Advisor Adam Richards.

Both parking and mainline rail services are available to those coming to First Merchant House, as well as all-day refreshments and lunch.

Richard Hamlin, Director at First Merchant, said: “The Hospitality Finance sector has captured the imagination not only of the Underwriting Team at First Merchant but of finance brokers across the country. Why? It is the boom business sector of our times.

“Restaurants and hotels in major towns and cities are busy - in fact, you can be hard-pressed to get at table or a room at some venues – yet, amazingly, most lenders do not service the sector in any proper or uniform fashion. At First Merchant it is all that we do and we love it.

“Another reason why financial intermediaries are flocking to our market, or at least devoting some of their precious time to it, is the wealth of spin-off business than emanates from hospitality business finance." Richard added: “Everything from writing life assurance to arranging employees’ pension plans, or from investment advice to re-financing residential mortgages, often follows a First Merchant deal. It is the market sector which has “saved” some introducers from a very lean year.

“We are experts in leasehold Business Finance, so why are we adding Freehold Mortgage Facility? The answer comes down to an unprecedented demand for the product, the likes of which we have not seen before. Since we started offering ten year loans for freehold pubs the phones haven’t stopped ringing. Yes, the business is out there!

“We invite all interested brokers to get in touch to learn how they can start earning the generous 2 per cent commission for successful introductions.”

Those who wish to attend the event should RSVP to

[email protected].