PROPERTY ROUND-UP
Greene King announces tenth Hive pub, Robinsons Brewery invests in 3 sites, Mayfair & Mersea Island venues open
Greene King announces ‘milestone’ tenth Hive pub
Greene King pub partners has announced the launch of its “milestone” tenth Hive pub following a £100,000 investment.
The Albert Tavern in South Norwood, London, which will be operated by the Tammy Hardy franchise, has been modernised by a complete refresh throughout with new lighting, furniture, decorations, and flooring in line with the Hive Pubs brand and concept.
Greene King pub partners managing director Wayne Shurvinton said: “It is fantastic to reach the milestone of our tenth Hive Pub opening with our £100,000 investment in the Albert Tavern.
“We are really pleased with the success of our Hive Pubs so far and look forward to opening even more in the coming weeks and months.”
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Vacant York pub seeks new operator
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has been instructed to market the Jubilee, a vacant pub in York, Yorkshire on a new IRI ten-year leasehold basis.
The freehold for the site was recently purchased by West Yorkshire-based property developer, Dominic Woodward of Tri-Core Developments. The company has secured planning permission for residential apartments on the first floor and wishes to lase out the ground floor as a pub-restaurant.
The property is situated on a corner plot on Balfour Street, near Holgate.
Christie & Co senior business agent Sam Ashton, who is handling the sale, commented: “This is a fairly rare opportunity that a pub becomes available on a ‘nil premium’ offering near York centre.
“The incoming tenants have the opportunity to invest internally, treating it as their own blank canvas and starting a new ten-year lease. We look forward to engaging with new prospective leaseholders and agreeing terms.”
Mersea Island pub opens after £1m revamp
The White Hart Inn on Mersea Island, Essex, opened on 15 June after a £1m investment, and sits just minutes from the sea.
There is a bar and dining room with a vaulted ceiling and open kitchen, a lounge with an open fire and plenty of outdoor seating in a sheltered terraced garden area with heated benches. The venue also has six individually designed en-suite double bedrooms with original artwork and antiques.
The White Hart owner Pier Baker said: "It is great to have a pub that has been shut for more than 10 years open again filled with food smells, have real ale flowing and be full of people. Our opening week went fantastically with lots of excellent feedback about the way the pub now looks, the food and our team.
“It was great hearing people's stories from when the pub used to be open and their excitement at what lay ahead given their familiarity with the Sun Inn and Church Street tavern, which has made things a bit daunting as we obviously have a reputation to live up to.
“Our team have worked tremendously well getting up to speed really quickly and I am too now extremely excited about the months and years to come!”
Brunning and Price take keys from Harrogate inn
Brunning and Price have received the keys for the Nelson Inn, Harrogate, north Yorkshire, and plan to open the site as early as October after refurbs.
The inn was built around 1776 and remained a private house until early in the 19th century. The pub received its name after Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar in 1805.
Brunning and Price managing director Mary Willcock said: ’You’ll find us traditional in style, with wooden floors, bookcases, open fires, trusty old furniture and lots of rugs and plants. We love to restore old buildings, learning about the character they have within them.
“Being foodies, our menu, which will be published on our website each morning, will be something of an eclectic mix, striking a balance of hearty pub classics, complemented by more exotic influences from around the world. It changes regularly and reflects the seasons but there’s always a mix of traditional British dishes alongside something a little different.
“We think simple things done well are often the best and we want to create a friendly atmosphere in attractive surroundings where locals, regulars and new customers can meet, eat, drink and relax. That for us, is what being a good pub in the heart of its community is all about.’’
Mr Fogg’s Apothecary opens in Mayfair
My Fogg’s Apothecary opened in Mayfair, central London on 9 June, marking first opening by the team behind Mr Fogg’s, Cahoots and Bunga Bunga in more than four years.
The Apothecary showcases the vast array of potions and elixirs Jules Verne’s fictional character, Phileas Fogg, collected while on his epic 80 day voyage around the world, and is open Tuesday to Saturday, 4pm to midnight.
Located on Brook Street, opposite Claridge’s hotel, the new venue aims to transport guests into Phileas’ world. A grand staircase will lead guests to a long bar, with weighing scales on hand to measure out cocktail serves.
Furthermore, the main drawing room is reminiscent of a Mayfair townhouse complete with grandfather clocks, large armchairs and sofas. Portraits of Fogg’s trust scientists, botanists and pharmacists line the walls along with other eccentric items.
Robinsons Brewery invests in three south Cheshire pubs
Family-run Robinsons Brewery has announced investments in three Congleton pubs in south Cheshire.
The pubs are the recently re-opened Church House, Buglawton, the Waggon and Horses in Eaton and the recently acquired Swettenham Arms, and they will all benefit from substantial investments.
The Church House benefited from a major refurb and opened on 9 June, which made way for a new bar and an extension to the rear which includes a larger kitchen area.
What’s more, the investment has improved the building’s original features such as the oak wall panelling and inglenook fire place as well as the beer garden and signage outside.
The Waggon and Horses will close in July for a 5 month refurb, benefitting from a large extension to link the bar area around the extensive beer garden, with a new entrance to the side.
Also extending its kitchen with refurbishments to the trade area is 16th century inn the Swettenham Arms. The grade II listed building was acquired by Robinsons in August of last year, and work will begin in January 2023.
Robinsons Brewery managing director William Robinson said: “Last year, we invested significant amount of capital expenditure across our pub estate. We are continuing our developments into this year and planning for 2023.
“Our focus for Congleton in particular centres around developing food opportunities, creating additional jobs and restoring these landmark local pubs. We were proud finalists for Best Brewing Pub Company at the 2022 Publican Awards in recognising our efforts during the pandemic and our commitment to investing in our pubs.”
Crazy Pedro’s Digbeth set to open
Late-night pizza bar Crazy Pedro’s, of the Liars Group, is set to open its doors in the Courtyard at the Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham on Friday 17 June.
The four-storey venue will be the company’s fourth Crazy Pedro’s venue, and at 5000sq ft, will be the group’s biggest venue to date with a floor dedicated to their bottomless brunch.
Liars Group owner Jobe Ferguson said: “Birmingham has welcomed us with open arms, and we are thoroughly excited to officially bring the Crazy Pedro’s concept to the city. We’re looking forward to serving up our frozen margaritas and trademark pizzas to the people of Digbeth, Birmingham and beyond!”
Master thatcher gives Shepherd Neame pub new lease of life
Shepherd Neame pub the Manor Farm Barn on Southfleet, Kent has got a new lease of life due to the work of a master thatcher.
Thatcher Glen Charter and his team completed a four-week refurb of the pub’s thatched roof, which is housed within an 18th century barn, earlier this month, giving it more than a decade more before it will need a full re-thatch.
The pub in New Barn Road, which became Britain’s first 21st century thatched pub in 2001, has had its roof repaired and refurbished and a new ridge built on top.
Charter’s signature straw sculpture, a pair of doves, tops the roof, which was repaired with the help of thatcher Richard Seaman.
Charter said: “The roof of Manor Farm Barn is the largest thatched roof that Shepherd Neame has – it is a very big roof!
“It has a 32ft slope on one side and a 25ft slope on the other. It had not been overhauled since completion in 2001, so there was a lot of refurbishment work to do, including removing the moss, and repairs to the coat work to carry out.”
Turkish Water Reed was used to repair the main thatch, with straw for the new ridge sourced locally from a farm in Smarden.
Charter continued: “It is a great sense of achievement when you have completed something like this - particularly with this one, as it needed so much work,” he added.
“I’m very pleased to do it, and to be bringing Richard on in the trade. It’s nice to bring it back to a good condition and give it extra years.”
