Tin of Sardines and Vagabond open new sites, south of England pubs open after makeovers

Traditional Derbyshire pub sale completed​

The sale for traditional pub the Harrington Arms in Derbyshire has been completed by Davey Co. for the guide price of £125,000.

The property is located in the village of Thulston, close to Shardlow Marina and about four miles south of Derby near to junction 24a M1.

The traditional village freehouse consistently returns substantial adjusted net profitability on annual sales of more than £400,000 per annum excluding VAT. The premises are held on a free-of-tie private lease.

The trading area are compromised of a two area lounge bar, snug lounge and two dining rooms of 30+ and 24+ throughout. There are also working fireplaces as well as commercial catering kitchen facilities and ancillary areas.

There are also extensive lawned garden trading areas and a large seating terrace, as well as a big customer car park. First floor accommodation includes five rooms plus a kitchen and bathroom.

The premises are held on the residue of a 21 year private commercial lease with a rent passing in the order of £36,000 per annum which has recently been reviewed.

Brakspear pub the Bull reopens after major makeover​ 

Multiple operator and brewer Brakspear has reopened the Bull on Bell Street in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, after an extensive refurb, the first major investment within its managed estate since it was rebranded as Honeycomb Houses last autumn. 

The makeover, devised by Brakspear’s in-house design team, has created an extensive outdoor space behind the pub, now called the Courtyard, with a water feature, outdoor fireplace and a retractable roof. 

The refurbishment has also created a new private dining and meeting room accommodating up to 22 guests, and added five bedrooms in an adjoining property, to complement to current four rooms in a townhouse behind the pub. 

Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies said the aim of the refurbishment was to turn the Bull into a haven away from the busy high street, offering guests a space to enjoy a brunch, a coffee, a bite to eat, a pint after work or a special occasion meal.   

The new interior décor features bold floral and botanical wallpaper and fabrics, plants and flowers to create a luxuriant feel, while nautical stripes and paddles are a nod to Henley’s rowing heritage and designs featuring bees and honeycombs are a reference to Honeycomb Houses. 

“We’re delighted with the results, which make the Bull the perfect embodiment of the Honeycomb Houses ethos of ‘Our House, Your Home’, where guests are made to feel completely at home the minute they step through the door, thanks to an informal, welcoming environment and relaxed, attentive service offered by the team members,” Davies added. 

Read more here​

The Old Shepherd in Chorleywood gets makeover​

The Old Shepherd in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire, has undergone an extensive refurbishment by Red Oak Taverns with local hospitality operator Scott McGarvie.

The traditional pub has all new furniture, décor, lighting and historic photos celebrating the local area. Outside is a south facing garden and the patio and decking areas have been revamped to cater for al fresco eating and drinking.

The revamped bar includes cask ales alongside draught and bottled craft beers and lagers. A new food menu includes bar snacks and sandwiches as well as European and British small and large plates with a contemporary twist, such as Cider Steamed Mussels and Onglet steak.

Red Oak Taverns business development manager Jonathan Seaton-Reid said: “Scott already operates a successful independent craft beer tap room in Croxley Green and his fresh ideas on creating a traditional pub with a contemporary twist were exactly what was needed for the Old Shepherd. 

“The new look food and drink offering at the Old Shepherd will be great for locals and visitors to the area”.

The Old Shepherd owner Scott McGarvie added Red Oak Taverns believed the pub had great potential with the right operator and wanted to invest in the business.

“We worked together to upgrade the pub and they were open to my ideas for how to improve the business and update the look and feel,” he said, adding that it had been “a pleasure” to work with them on this new venture.

McGarvie concluded: “Being local to the area, I knew the Old Shepherd well and could picture what it could offer as a village pub. It’s in a great location opposite the beautiful Chorleywood common so it will be great to see customers new and old visiting the pub”.

Tin of Sardines to open third site​

Tin of Sardines, which made headlines when it opened the world’s smallest gin bar in Durham, is set to open a third site, on Sunderland’s sea front, with a landscaped outdoor terrace hanging over the Roker Pier.

Boasting panoramas of the pier and it’s two blue-flag beaches, the venue will stock more than 200 varieties of gin and 50 mixers, as well as an array of locally produced snacks and meals.

Founded by father and son business partners Lord Trevor and Ben Davis, the pair opened the first Tin of Sardines venue on Durham’s Elvet Bridge in 2017, with the venue holding just 16 people and stocking hundreds of varieties of gin.

The pair then opened a second venue in Trevor’s hometown of Poole, Dorset, renovating a former newsagents and contributing to the conservation and restoration of the town’s shoreline.

Ben said: “Since being handed the keys last week we’ve been delighted with how work is progressing on the site and we are confident of opening our doors within the next six to eight weeks.”

He said the Tin of Sardines brand had been a “real success” since it first opened in Durham five years ago, and the team had been mulling over a third venue for some time before the former Roker Toilet Block hit the market. 

“As someone born and bred in Sunderland and as a family embedded in the region’s hospitality industry for decades, we knew this was an opportunity we couldn’t miss out on and were sold on the idea of bringing it to the city as soon as we set eyes on it,” he added.

He continued: “Our success has been built upon providing a quaint, relaxed atmosphere, where people can meet, eat and drink away from the hustle and bustle.

“Identifying locations that nurture such an environment is somewhat of a challenge and for my money – with its breath-taking views of the promenade and idyllic location – there aren’t many sites in the North East that could come close to this aesthetically.”

Read more here​

Vagabond to open first airport site at Heathrow’s Terminal 5​

Wine bar company Vagabond Bar and Kitchen is set to launch its first airport site is set to launch its first airport site this week, airside at Heathrow’s Terminal 5.

The £1.3m investment will see Vagabond create 60 new jobs, opening the doors to a 4,500 sq ft site with space for 170 guests.

From 19 May 2022, more than 100 varieties of wine will be served via Vagabond’s wine dispensers and the venue will also be home to one of the brand’s self-pour craft beer walls.

The Vagabond site – which will open seven days a week from 5:30am to 10:30pm – will also offer extensive breakfast, lunch and dinner menus as well as bar snacks, cocktails and a children’s menu.

Vagabond Bar and Kitchen managing director Matt Fleming said: “This is a really exciting step into the airport environment for Vagabond and the Heathrow site will expose millions of guests to the Vagabond concept per year.

“We have ambitious growth plans to open further sites across the country and this new venue is also a fantastic foothold for potential future international expansion. We can’t wait to introduce the Vagabond way to people from around the world, giving them the perfect start to their journey.”

The company’s Heathrow site will become the eleventh in the group, with nine venues already trading across London and a recent opening in Birmingham.

• To find out about pubs for sale, lease and tenancy go to our property site.​
• If you have any information regarding new openings or property details you think could be used in this weekly round-up section, along with hi-res landscape images, please email nzryvr.znhevpr-wbarf@jeoz.pbz​ before midday on Tuesdays.