Foundation's sixth site ready

Foundation Inns is gearing up to open its sixth site, following a £500,000 refurbishment at a pub in Oxfordshire.

The King's Head & Bell, at Abingdon, closed in November 2007 due to structural problems with the 16th-century building.

Foundation bought the pub from Ladhar Leisure 16 months ago, for a price that managing director Ian Grundy described as "affordable".

"The gamble from our perspective was, could we resolve the structural problems cost-effectively while working with the listed buildings department. We managed to, and we think it's been an excellent purchase," said Grundy.

Grundy said contractors were working hard to finish the refurbishment in time to open on 30 October.

Foundation Inns operates five other pubs, including the Noble Vine, at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey; the Glass House, Lincoln; the Tavern, Melksham, Wiltshire; the Village, Walthamstow Village, Greater London; and the White Horse, Chelmsford, Essex.

"The central beams had collapsed so we spoke to the council about coming up with a method to structurally secure the building and return it to its former glory," said Grundy

The £500,000 budget also included widening the building into the courtyard and re-rendering the outside of the property.

"We've made it a traditional pub with great food, four cask ales and two function rooms."