City worker Frederick (pictured with wife Hannah and baby Effie) teamed up with a fellow accountant, Richard Cryer, to raise the cash to buy and develop the Grantley Arms and sought help and advice from the pub-operating family of his wife.
There was an opportunity, he thought, for the pub to be the only one in the area serving fresh food.
After a £500,000 refurbishment to create a bright and comfortable modern bar in the 16th century listed building, convert a skittle alley into a formal restaurant and conjure a spectacular private dining space out of an old store room, a pub that was losing money is now on track to turn over £1.2m in its first year.
With head chef Matt Edmonds, formerly pastry chef at the famous Fat Duck in Bray, in charge of the kitchen, and Mario Martinelli coming from a five-star hotel to be the pub’s general manager, it’s not only won over the village but has attracted diners from further afield. With traditional pub food in the bar and more adventurous cooking available in the restaurant in the evenings, it’s already gained two AA rosettes and was named ‘one to watch’ in the Gastropub Top 50 awards.
Frederick has worked on the community side of the business, too, staging weekly quizzes and live music, serving local ales and ensuring the pub is involved in local events.
All profits are being ploughed back into the Grantley Arms to develop the pub further, with Frederick keen to take the locals with him on an exciting journey.