Norfolk operator rebrands pubs and launches cake business

A Norfolk pub operator is rebranding two of his sites and has also launched a thriving cake business.

Iain Wilson, owner of the King's Head in Holt, is giving the freehold site a £100,000 rebrand as Steak at the King's Head.

The conservatory-style steak house will feature a charcoal grill where customers can see food being prepared.

A new maturation fridge will ensure the site can age its meat properly.

Wilson also owns freehold the Pigs at Edgefield, the Assembly House and Lavender House boutique hotels and Byfords café/deli and B&B, also in Holt.

Byfords will relaunch as Byfords Store in May following a £200,000 revamp.

The new-look venue will have a new kitchen, an extra 30 seats and offer stone-baked pizza, pastries and speciality breads.

There will also be a salad and pasta bar for eating in or taking away. Byfords serves up to 1,200 customers on a Saturday. Wilson has also teamed up with Mark Joll to launch cake company Sponge, following the amount of cake sales at Byfords, which number around 80 a week.

Sponge is now selling 500 sponges weekly and employing six staff to meet demand. Selfridges is among stockists.

The cakes are also available online, with 35 orders per week. A "Give one, get one free" offer is currently running to spread the word.

Wilson said: "The interest has been really great and the online side of the business could be massive."