Harry and Meghan gin pub sold, Rooster’s spreads its wings with £850,000 home and Prince of Wales pub makeover

Pub behind Harry and Meghan gin sold off £135,000 asking price

The Queen Charlotte in Windsor, Berkshire – which collaborated with pubco Oak Taverns to create a celebratory gin to commemorate the royal wedding of Harry and Meghan – has been sold off an asking price of £135,000.

Found just a few hundred yards from Windsor Castle and named after nearby Queen Charlotte Street – listed as the shortest street in Britain – the Queen Charlotte will become operator Gareth Dore’s second site.

“Windsor is a fantastic town and I am thrilled to be able to take over such a well-known pub in the area,” new owner Dore explained. “I hope to build on its historical success by adding my own touch to it, working with the great team I have here.” 

Tim Widdows of Christie & Co, which handled the sale, added: “We received plenty of interest in the property due its great reputation and strong trading location. We are thrilled for the new owner Gareth and wish him every success in his new venture.” 

£850,000 investment in brewery and taproom to help Rooster’s take flight 

North Yorkshire-based brewery, Rooster’s Brewing Co, has spread its wings with an 18-month, £850,000 investment in a new brewery and taproom three times the size of its former home at Grimbald Park near Knaresborough.

The shiny new 20,000sq ft Harrogate site includes a brewhouse capable of producing more than 30,000 litres of beer every week as well as a large taproom – which has been open since May 2019. An upstairs ‘sample room’ available for private hire can also house 120 guests. 

“This move marks the start of a new and exciting chapter in a 27-year history that has seen the company recognised as one of the originators and pioneers of the craft beer movement,” director Ian Fozard, said of the company’s expansion.

“The new brewery enhances both our brewing capabilities and our competitiveness in the marketplace, and means we’re exceptionally well placed to service the growing demand for our range of award-winning beers, both in the UK and further afield.”

Robinsons reveals £400,000 revamp for historic Stockport pub

Cheshire-based brewer and pub operator Robinsons has announced plans to refit one of Stockport’s oldest pubs to the tune of £400,000.

The three-month refurbishment starting in June will see the Bulls Head – a Grade II-listed pub found in Stockport’s Market Place dating back to 1731 – reopen its doors for the first time since November 2011 when it closed after a difficult trading period. 

The pub has strong political and historical associations and was the centre of local unrest leading to the massacre of Peterloo in August 1819 when cavalry charged into a crowd of between 60,000 and 80,000, which had formed to demand parliamentary reform.

“Stockport Market Place is the historic heart of our town and somewhere we are proud to help preserve,” William Robinson, managing director of Robinsons’ pub division, explained. “We took the decision to renovate the Bakers Vaults in 2014; at a time when the Market Place was really struggling and something drastic needed to change.  

“Since then, everyone has pulled together for the benefit of the town and the regeneration of Stockport has been remarkable. From Foodie Friday, which we sponsor, to the launch of the Produce Hall and the many boutique and independent shops, the old town of Stockport is once again bustling and it’s now the right time to reopen the Bulls Head.” 

Prince of Wales gets £260,000 facelift

The Prince of Wales in the Bailgate area of Lincoln has reopened following a joint investment of £260,000​ by Ei Publican Partnerships and local publican Gordon Reeves. 

Ei Publican Partnerships, part of the Ei Group that operates more than 4,000 pubs across England and Wales, splashed a princely sum of £200,000 on the east Midlands pub as part of a capital investment programme of around £80m per year. 

“Having run the Prince of Wales for around 10 years, my business partner Simon Chester and I are hugely excited to have the opportunity to take the pub to new heights following this investment and reposition it as the beating heart of the community once again,” Reeves explained. “We are looking forward to utilising the new restaurant space, offering great food and hosting several family events in the near future.” 

“Since taking on the Prince of Wales, Gordon has worked very hard to make this pub a success and it is great to have such an experienced publican at the helm,” Ei Publican Partnerships regional manager, Sean Gifford added. “I wish him the best of luck as he continues to take this pub from strength to strength, bringing positive change to the local area and attracting new customers.” 

Constitution change at canal-side Camden pub

Brewer and operator of more than 200 pubs, Young’s has acquired the Constitution in Camden, London.

The deal, which included the simultaneous purchase of the leasehold interest from Pubs of Distinction and the freehold from an investor, was brokered by leisure property specialist Fleurets.

“This transaction reflects an opportunistic tripartite deal, which resulted in three happy parties. There is a lack of good-quality stock available on the market, meaning we are having to dig deeper and be more creative for our clients,” Ed Sandall, a director at Fleurets, explained. 

Discussing the deal, Young’s acquisition manager Brendan Brammer added: “We are delighted to acquire this property, which has canal frontage, large external trading area and is located in the heart of an area which continues to see significant urban regeneration. We intend to undertake a comprehensive refurbishment of the site ready for summer trading.”

To find out more about pubs for sale, lease and tenancy visit our property site​. ​