Livelyhood Pubs to grow to seven sites with August opening
South London-based pub group Livelyhood will open a new pub this August in Bromley.
Operating in space which was once a famous wine merchants owned by George Pamphilon in the mid-18th century, the Artful Duke will open as a 3,000sq ft, 150-cover space boasting an array of reclaimed old and new fixtures and fittings.
There will also be a 60-cover heated outdoor terrace for al fresco dining and drinking all year round.
Creating approximately 30 new jobs for the hospitality industry, the venue will allow further opportunity for the company to grow their charity partnerships with the Big Kid Foundation and Only A Pavement Away.
“After such a time, we are more excited than usual to be able to share such brilliant news,” Livelyhood owner Sarah Wall said of the new site. “As we take the next, hugely positive steps in our growth plan, we are absolutely delighted to announce the opening of a new Livelyhood neighbourhood pub.
“Not only creating opportunities to grow our team, but also working in partnership with our outstanding suppliers and local businesses to create a warm and inviting pub in the heart of this perfect Livelyhood location. We cannot wait to get cracking and get open for business.”
The Artful Duke will bring Livelyhood’s portfolio to seven, which currently includes the Clapham North, the Regent in Balham, the Perky Nel in Clapham, the Faber Fox in Crystal Palace, the Mere Scribbler in Streatham and the Old Frizzle in Wimbledon.
An eighth opening is planned for autumn.
Oxfordshire operator takes on two Star Pubs & Bars sites
Brewmish Pub Company launched by Chris Brewster, former licensee of the Unicorn in Dedington, has taken on two Star Pubs & Bars sites – the Duke of Marlborough just outside Woodstock and the King’s Head in the town itself.
The King’s Head, which has been closed for two years is about to undergo a £350,000 joint refurbishment with Star, transforming the site into a pub featuring a wine bar and international small plates restaurant. It will reopen as the Back Lane Tavern, its historic name, in mid-August.
The Duke of Marlborough, a family and dog-friendly coaching inn with 13 letting rooms, reopened on 17 May following a lockdown refurbishment.
“Taking on two pubs during lockdown was frustrating as it meant the business hasn’t been able to grow as quickly as planned,” Brewster said. “However, it opened up new opportunities.
‘We were able to trial a taco takeaway truck business from the Duke of Marlborough – a mini Duke on wheels. It’s a model we will look to expand as this style of operation that can thrive during a pandemic and also be used for events and to serve outlying villages.
“Once the Duke of Marlborough and the Back Lane Tavern are firmly established, we plan to take on a further two or three pubs in the Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Buckinghamshire or Berkshire area.”
Shepherd Neame invests £300,000 into estate-wide al fresco upgrades
Kent-based brewer and pub operator Shepherd Neame has begun rolling out the latest investment in its pub estate – stylish new bespoke stretch tents, perfect for al fresco drinking and dining.
Working with London specialists Intent Productions, the independent family brewer is investing £300,000 on the installation of stretch tents at 30 of its sites. They have already been completed at four pubs across the southeast: the Albion Taverna in Faversham and the Spitfire in King’s Hill – both Kent – and the Juggs in Lewes, East Sussex.
Each shelter will be festooned with outdoor heating, lighting and solar-powered fairy lights designed to enable guests to enjoy the spaces throughout the day and in the evening, whatever the weather.
Director of retail and tenanted operations Nigel Bunting said: “The great British weather can be unpredictable, and we want to ensure customers can enjoy our pubs at any time of year, rain or shine.
“We recognise that despite the return of indoor hospitality last month some customers still prefer to sit outside, so these new structures allow them to enjoy our pubs in a protected outdoor environment. Also, with current Covid social distancing restrictions extended into July, these new stretch tents allow us to safely extend our capacity and welcome more customers in a safe way.
“We are incredibly pleased with the stretch tents completed so far, and are sure they will prove popular with customers and another reason to visit our fantastic pubs.”
Inn Collection Group grows to 24 sites
The Inn Collection Group has announced its purchase of the Ripon Spa Hotel in North Yorkshire for an undisclosed sum.
Located in the cathedral city of Ripon, the 40-bedroom site is set in six acres of gardens and features public rooms including a ballroom, terrace bar and self-contained Turf Tavern Bar Bistro.
The deal marks the group’s fourth site in Yorkshire and takes its estate total to 24.
The site will remain closed while a major refurbishment is carried out to enhance and repurpose the venue.
Sean Donkin, managing director of the Inn Collection Group, said: “The Ripon Spa is a fantastic addition to our portfolio of properties. It has huge potential which we have an exciting vision to realise. We’re looking forward to starting that journey while expanding the group’s footprint in Yorkshire.
“The Inn Collection Group excels at revitalising classic, landmark sites like The Ripon Spa and realising their full potential with significant capital spend, detailed planning and care to retain the unique, historic character of landmark sites such as this.”
Julian Troup, head of UK Hotels Agency at Colliers, added: “This sale marks a new chapter in the history of the Ripon Spa Hotel, and I look forward to seeing this renowned Yorkshire hotel benefitting from the high-quality of refurbishment for which the Inn Collection Group is synonymous.
“There has been a noticeable change of mood in recent months among potential hotel purchasers. Activity has significantly increased, and The Ripon Spa Hotel attracted a good deal of interest from a diverse range of buyers before being secured by The Inn Collection Group.”
Beefeater brand grows to 174 sites
Whitbread’s Beefeater brand is set to grow to 174 restaurants with the opening of sites in Saffron Walden in Essex and Hamilton, Glasgow – both in new-build Premier Inn properties.
The Glasgow 182-cover Beefeater will open as part of the new-build 96-bedroom Premier Inn Hotel in Hamilton and will feature a restaurant, bar alongside a garden offering an additional 16 covers, while the Saffron Walden site is part of the 70-bedroom Premier Inn and has 102-covers.
“We are investing to win this financial year as we recover from the pandemic and continue to grow and innovate our market leading brands,” Rebecca Donaldson of Whitbread Restaurants, said. “We’re very excited to be growing our Beefeater brand, alongside Premier Inn, with our newest openings in Glasgow and Saffron Walden.”
Between May and August, Whitbread will have opened seven new restaurants across its Beefeater, Bar + Block and Cookhouse + Pub brands, alongside 15 new and extended hotels.
McMullen’s opens central London hotel and pub
McMullen & Sons has announced the reopening of the historic Kings Arms in Fitzrovia after a two-year development. The rejuvenated pub now boasts five boutique bedrooms alongside basement bar, the Undercroft.
The site is the latest development for McMullen’s following a £2.1m investment in the Old Bank of England in London’s Fleet Street where a classic Routemaster double decker bus was craned into the suntrap courtyard behind the pub.
“Hospitality and the team within it are awesome, every problem was embraced with a smile! Not quite as dramatic as our double decker bus being delivered on a crane but a lot of fun! Thanks to those involved,” Heydon Mizon, joint managing director, said.
McMullen’s has also confirmed developments in an ex-Wetherspoons in Whitehall, Trinity Square in London, St Andrews Street in Cambridge, and St Albans alongside new builds on Campbell Wharf marina in Milton Keynes and in Cambourne, Cambridgeshire.
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