The company has bought the freehold of the former Water Lounge in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire and plans to launch in spring 2014. Following a refurbishment the site will hold 100 covers with a separate cellar bar. The menu will offer fresh local food with a range of beers and selection of wines, spirits and cocktails.
The purchase was funded with support from Barclays.
"We are really excited about this new venture in historic Bishops Stortford," said director of food Harry Kodagoda. "The town has a great feel for us and the building in Water Lane has amazing original features and character to accommodate our exciting ideas. It will be well suited for our fresh food offer where we plan to incorporate lots of local produce and seafood from our fishermen friends in north Norfolk."
Sister site Hermitage Road in Hitchin, Hertfordshire has recently earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand, entry in the Waitrose Good Food Guide and a place in the top 500 restaurants in the UK and Ireland from the Telegraph.
Anglian Country Inns also runs the White Horse in Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk; the Jolly Sailors in Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk; the Fox in Willian, Hertfordshire; and Brancaster Brewery - a five-barrel microbrewery.