Norfolk pub re-opens with bakery and community cafe

The Old King’s Head in Brockdish, south Norfolk closed in September 2013 when it went up for sale but was bought in July last year by an entrepreneurial brother and sister team, Jonathan Townley and Louise Lees.

Following a £4,000 grant from Norfolk County Council and advice and support from Pub is the Hub, alongside his own investment of £8,500, Townley refurbished the pub inside and out and replaced the bar top with an old piece of oak from a local tree felled over thirty years ago.

The kitchen now boasts a two-tier stone bakery oven for baking bread, caked and pizzas, while the café, with its separate entrance at the rear of the pub, will produce top-quality barista-style coffee.

Townley has worked for fine dining restaurants in France and England and the pub will mainly feature rustic Mediterranean food.

“Our vision for a rural pub like The Old King’s Head has married my culinary expertise and my sister’s business acumen with the community need for a social hub in Brockdish and the provision of new services. I am enormously grateful to Norfolk County Council for their grant and to Pub is The Hub for their guidance and encouragement,” Townley said.

Terry Stork, regional advisor in East Anglia for Pub is The Hub, said: “Schemes like this help to secure a rural community pub’s long term viability. Jonathan and Louise have already made great progress to benefit their community and we wish them well in their venture.”