Leefe-Griffiths opens third gastropub

Entrepreneur Julian Leefe-Griffiths has opened his third venture, the George & Dragon at Chipstead, Kent, with experienced business partner Benjamin James.

The 16th-century gastropub, leased from Brakspear, has an organic food-based menu with the motto "Food from a farm, not from a factory". The pub can hold 90 people across a first floor restaurant, a private dining room and a relaxed bar area downstairs.

A 12-week refurbishment cost around £150,000 before the pub opened. This included moving the kitchen while keeping the venue's traditional features.

Digital photographic wallpaper of trees between the wooden beams in the private dining area creates the illusion of a woodland area.

The venue is food and game-focused with main dishes such as confit of duck with honey-roasted fall apples (£13.50) and fillet of sea-bream with brown shrimp and caper butter (£14.50). A three-course meal with wine costs around £36.

"It is important to me that our food is sincere, honest and good," said Leefe-Griffiths, who oversees the food side.