Village pub set to reopen
The Coach and Horses, a village pub with rooms in Compton, West Sussex, has been sold by Christie & Co and is set to reopen under new ownership.
The Grade II listed property features a bar and restaurant space as well as three letting rooms which were opened in 2019. There is also one-bedroom accommodation for the owner.
The new owners, who wishes to remain anonymous, commented: “We fell in love with the area and are very excited to take on this new adventure. We feel grateful for the community support that has been shown for the refurbishment, and various future events that we have planned.
“The local residents have expressed how excited they are to see the village pub revamped and our local MP, Gillian Keegan also popped in to wish us luck.”
Christie & Co regional director of pubs and restaurants Richard Wood brokered the deal. He added: “I am delighted to have sold the Coach and Horses and have no doubt that the new owners will make the pub a tremendous success, given their plans to undertake an extensive refurbishment program.
“This is a great example of the deals currently taking place due to the ongoing buyer demand for quality pubs. The regional pub market remains active, despite the current market headwinds and we have plenty of buyers looking for opportunities.”
The Coach and Horses was sold on a freehold basis, off a guide price of £495,000.
Punch pub reopens with new look for World Cup
Brighton pub the Admiral in Sussex has opened its doors with a new contemporary look and feel, following a joint investment.
The site’s four-week transformation comes courtesy of independent pub operators Punch Pubs, and its new publican Toby Armitage.
The pub’s interiors now showcase street art, with bench-style seating added to suit large and small groups. There are also plenty of new pub games, large TVs and a projector to gear up to the World Cup.
Armitage, who is the venue’s operator, cannot wait for guests to enjoy the new atmosphere and late-night vibe.
He said: “People are going to be blown away by the transformation, the investment has brought a whole new energy to the building and made it a real head-turner. It’s going to be the perfect place to party!”
Punch Pubs operations manager Julian-James Mobbs added: “We’re delighted to have been able to invest in providing the city with such a fabulous modern late-night venue.
“Toby has amazing visions for its future and a wonderful team behind him, we can’t wait to watch him bring it all to life.”
£3m investment in O2 pub by JDW
Pub group JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has announced a new pub opening in February next year at London entertainment venue The O2.
The Greenwich landmark is owned and operated by Waterfront Limited Partnership – a joint venture between AEG and Crosstree Real Estate Partners.
JDW is pumping almost £3m in the new site, which will be within The O2’s Entertainment District, adjacent to Mamma Mia! The Party.
It will be named the Stargazer, paying tribute to its North Greenwich home and the location’s association with astronomy.
There will be a 3,800sq ft beer garden, featuring views across the Thames and Canary Wharf, creating up to 70 jobs.
JDW chairman Tim Martin said: “We are delighted to be opening a pub at The O2. We believe it will prove popular with customers of all ages.”
Read more here
Punch invests over £800k into estate
Punch Pubs has invested £815,000 into its pubs over the past few months.
The pubco injected £285,000 into the White Heart in Fernhill Heath, Worcester, £270,000 into the George pub in Huntington and £260,000 into the Turks Head in Penzance.
Set to reopen under new management partner Julie Brannon, from Tuesday 15 November, the White Heart has been refurbished inside and out with improved seating and dining areas, complimented by a new food and drinks menu, including hand-made steak and ale pie and local cask ales.
Barron said: “It’s fantastic to be able to reopen the pub, the investment has given the pub a new lease of life.
“I’ve got a great established team full of familiar faces and I’m already planning a whole host of events to get a real buzz around the place.”
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Village coaching inn hits market
The freehold of the Half Moon in Ripley, Surrey is on the market with leisure property specialist Fleurets for £750,000.
Fleurets director and head of national agency James Davis said: “The Half Moon offers a rare opportunity to buy a freehold business and to live and work in the village of Ripley, which has recently been recognised as one of the top 10 village in Surrey.
“The Half Moon itself is a long established and well-presented business benefitting from additional income via the letting rooms, so I expect strong interest especially from owner or operator buyers.”
Comprising of an open plan bar restaurant, central island style bar servery, trade kitchen and letting rooms, the Half Moon also offers an adjoining cottage that is potentially available.
Fuller’s acquires two pubs in south-west
London-based pub operator Fuller’s has acquired two pubs in the south-west of England.
The sales of the De La Hayes in Bourton on the Water, near Cheltenham, and the Rising Sun in Wootton, New Forest, Hampshire, were completed by property agent Savills.
De La Hayes is a Grade II-listed property in the Cotswolds that has views of the River Windrush. The property will undergo a large-scale refurbishment to create an “all-encompassing pub”, with works starting in December. The property occupies a prominent position along Bourton on the Water’s main thoroughfare, adjacent to the Motor Museum and main shopping street.
Adam Bullas, director in licensed leisure team at Savills, said: “The De La Hayes property commands arguably the best position in the village. As a consequence of this, interest was particularly strong in the site and I am confident that with Fuller’s high-end fit-out and offering, this will be a resounding success once the venue reopens next summer.”
The Rising Sun in Wootton is claimed to be an iconic New Forest pub with a large ground-floor trading area, beer garden, children’s play area and a paddock that can be used for events. The property is surrounded by 145 square miles of countryside with deer and other wildlife.
Kevin Marsh, head of licensed leisure at Savills, said: “We are pleased to complete the sale of these two beautiful pubs in sought-after tourist honeypot locations. The properties have an enormous amount of character and history, which will add the exceptional experience that Fullers is well-known for. We continue to see strong demand for pubs in tourist heavy locations.”
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KFC launches first pub
KFC has launched its first pub – the Colonel’s Arms – in Hammersmith, west London, which will open its doors from 25 November to 1 December.
The site will be the chicken company’s take on a British pub and will include a ‘ring for KFC delivery’ bell, a football table, screens and pints.
Tickets for the Fulham Palace Road pub can be bought on Eventbrite and there is also space for walk-ins.
The opening dates coincide with the timings of the Qatar football World Cup, meaning fans can get chicken delivered to their table while watching matches.
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The Alchemist reveals international expansion
Premium bar operator The Alchemist is set to open its first site in Berlin, Germany as part of its growth plans.
The plans to open in the city had been in place for a number of years as a result of its strong cultural identity and eclectic mix of districts, according to the brand.
It will open its first German venture in Potsdamer Platz – a new urban area that is host to Berliners, office workers and tourists.
Once finished, the development will include a mixture of retail including Mattel’s interactive toy shop, dining and entertainment.
The venue will open in spring next year, span 5,887sq ft, holding 212 covers internally and a further 50 externally.
The Alchemist Berlin will feature futuristic influences from astrology and the cosmos. Furthermore, it will also include celestial lighting installations that act as structural statements in the day and illuminate the bar at night.
Guests will also be able to enjoy plush seating that wouldn’t look out of place in a spaceship alongside the use of rich coloured base metals and marbles.
Read more here
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