Admiral invests £450k into pub estate

Admiral Taverns invests £450k into pub refurbs  

The Camerons, formerly known as the Carnarvon, on St George’s Road in Glasgow reopened its doors on Friday 8 September after a £220,000 investment from owners Admiral Taverns.

Part of Admiral’s Proper Pubs division, the site has benefitted from fresh décor throughout, including updated furniture and flooring, as well as a new bar area.

Outside the Camerons now features a newly created seated area alongside new lighting and signage.

Operator of the Camerons Reiss Williamson said: “The feedback we received from our community was amazing, and we can’t wait to see them again soon.”

Admiral has similarly invested £230k into renovations at the White Swan on Church Street in Oldbury, which is also part of the Proper Pubs division and opened its doors again on Friday 8 September.

In addition to a new bar, flooring and furniture throughout, the Swan has also benefitted from new heating and seating in its beer garden.

Admiral Proper Pubs operations director Matthew Gurney described both refurbishments as “fantastic” and praised the teams “hard work”, wishing the operators of both sites “every success for the future”.

Both pubs celebrated their reopening with live music and will show a variety of sporting events with access to TNT, Sky Sports and Viaplay Sports as well as a regular schedule of live entertainment including live music and DJ sets as well as quiz nights.

Operator of the White Swan Adam Riese said: “Opening night was fantastic, it was amazing to see all our customers, old and new, coming to see what the pub has to offer.”

Mitchells & Butlers London sites get six-figure makeover 

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has targeted the capital over the past year with "major pub transformations" at four of its Nicholson's pubs venues, spanning from Mayfair to Whitechapel. 

Since the beginning of 2023 the Sugar Loaf on Cannon Street, the Bear and Staff on Charing Cross Road and the Princess of Wales, also on Charing Cross Road, have all undergone refurbishments and the Bunch of Grapes on Aldgate High Street is the next to follow suit with the site set to reopen on Monday 18 September. 

M&B said the "extensive refurbishments" had given the historic pubs a "warm and inviting new feel" while maintaining their "traditional exteriors and charm".

Across all the sites, customers can choose from classic British pub food, including sharers, classic mains and succulent burgers alongside an "extensive drinks menu", boasting a wide selection of gin options and cask, craft beers and world lagers.

Robinsons reopens community pub

Robinsons Brewery has completed a full refurbishment of Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub in Longnur, near Buxton.

The front terrace has been refreshed with new planting and wooden furniture while the old car park across the road has been utilised to increase the pub’s outdoor seating capacity.

Inside, the site has benefited from renovations throughout, including a newly built bar that extends across two interconnected rooms.

The team also discovered a preserved stone floor during the refurbishment process, which has been cleaned and restored to its former glory.

Robinsons business partner and licensee of Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Robert Lester said: “The refurbishment from Robinsons has completely transformed the pub. Since re-opening trade has been crazy.

“It’s great to see the pub busy, the food offering is really popular amongst locals and I’m really proud to run such a hub for the community of Longnor.”

Inn Collection reveals new look for Yorkshire site

Newcastle-based pub with rooms operator the Inn Collection Group has unveiled a new look for the Knaresborough Inn, North Yorkshire, formerly known as the Dower House Hotel & Spa.

The Grade II listed site has benefited from a multi-million-pound investment, including the addition of 18 new rooms and a beer garden alongside a revamp to the outdoor areas, space for 100 extra covers and new furniture throughout. 

Customers were welcomed back to the venue after it was officially declared open for business once again on Monday 4 September. 

General manager Ian Durrant said: “We had planned a soft launch for the site over the weekend but once the word was out that our doors were open, it was quite incredible to see how eager people were to see what has been done to the place.

“The new beer garden was full all weekend, the menu was well sampled, and we’ve had a lot of interest around our Christmas and New Year packages so we’re off to a great start.”

The Knaresborough Inn is the second Yorkshire re-opening for The Inn Collection Group in 2023 and will be joined by The Ripon Inn this autumn, with its refurbishment entering the final phases.

Inn Collection Group property director Louise Stewart said: “We’re delighted to have completed works on The Knaresborough Inn and that it is being received so well.

“We’ve not only created a beautiful new space to enjoy in the town, but we have undertaken a great deal of remedial work to the fabric of the building itself, some of which dates back to the 15th century.

“Knaresborough is one of 13 Grade II listed buildings within our estate, so our teams are developing a bit of a specialism in caring for them and ensuring that they are secured for the long term."

• If you have any information regarding new openings, refurbishments 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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ or rebecca.weller@wrbm.com​​​.