Admiral invests £374,000 into its estate

Admiral invests £374,000 into two new sites

The Travellers Rest on Leek Road, Milton in Stoke-On-Trent reopened on Friday 27 September after an investment of £196,000. The venue is part of Proper Pubs; wet-led operator division of Admiral Taverns.

The pub has received a full refurbishment inside which includes updates to the bar and lounge area –offering a new dartboard with four televisions. Outside the pub offers a garden with a 65-inch Television, showcasing Sky Sports, TNT as well as horse racing channels.

The site offers a varied range of drinks, with Wine Wednesday, where customers can get £2 off a bottle as well as  Fizz Friday,  where customers have the chance to win a bottle of fizz for £10, along with bottle and shot deals throughout the week alongside cocktails.

Operators of The Travellers Rest, Steve and Polly Stevenson said: “We had a fantastic opening weekend! It was great to be able to celebrate alongside the team who have been brilliant throughout this whole process and our wonderful community.

They continued: “We would like to thank everyone, including Proper Pubs, our family, friends and our amazing team, that helped bring our vision to life – we can’t wait for all that’s to come going forward.” 

The site also showcases regular live music, quiz and bingo nights for customers to enjoy.  

The Stevenson’s are set to run an array of fundraising events for varied causes and plan to work with Dougie Mac Hospice​ as well as KMAC, an initiative that raises money  for immunotherapy research at The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. 

Operations director for Proper Pubs Mathhew Gurney said: "It’s great to see how well the refurbishment at The Travellers Rest has turned out and it was a delight to hear how successful the opening weekend was.”

He continued: “On behalf of the Proper Pubs team, we would like to wish our community heroes, Steve and Polly, the very best of luck in making The Travellers Rest a fantastic hub of the community.” 

Also this week the site opened another investment, The Goodrest Tavern in Worcester, which benefitted from a £178k makeover. 

Located on Barker Street, the pub reopened on Thursday 19 September. The site is part of Proper Pubs the wet led division of Admiral Taverns.

It showcase updated dartboards, pool tables and skittle alley as well as a spacious beer garden with two heaters, seating up to 100 people.

To celebrate the reopening, a variety of live music was showcased at the site including a performance from local artist, Mike Skillbeck on Thursday.

The Goodrest Tavern offers a wide range of drinks, including Wine Wednesday, where customers can get £2 off a bottle, Fizz Friday, offering customers a bottle of fizz for £10, along with cocktails, bottle and shot deals running throughout the week. 

Operator of the Goodrest Tavern, Craig Davis said: “We thoroughly enjoyed the reopening weekend where we were able to celebrate with all the local community. It was great to welcome back both old and new customers and we have already received great feedback. We can’t wait for what’s to come."

He continued: “I would like to thank everyone at Proper Pubs and the whole team here who have been working tirelessly to get the pub ready for the return of our customers and for their continued support.” 

The Tavern offers varied entertainment options, including regular live music, quiz nights and bingo, as well as hosting regular pool and darts teams.

In the future, Davis hopes to run a series of fundraising events for causes that are meaningful to the local community.

Regarding the Goodrest Tavern, Gurney said: “The refurbishment at the Goodrest Tavern looks amazing and it was great to see how successful the opening weekend was – Craig and the whole team have been brilliant throughout this entire process.”

He continued: “On behalf of the Proper Pubs team, we would like to wish our community hero, Craig, every success in making the Goodrest Tavern a fantastic hub of the community.”  

Arc Inspiration’s BOX set to open this November​

Arc Inspiration's BOX sports bar and kitchen brand is set to open its latest venue in Sheffield city centre in November. 

Located near Sheffield City Hall, the site will bring an investment of £2.7m into Sheffield that will create 55 new jobs. Spanning across two floors, BOX will offer a mix of live sports, entertainment and interactive games.

Designed with sports fans in mind, the venue will feature 30 large HD TV screens, showcasing the biggest indoor screen in the city, with a raised stadium-style seating area, boasting views from every spot in the venue.

Guests can watch a variety of sports at the venue, including boxing, NFL and Formula 1. Customers will also have the opportunity to play electric darts upstairs and enjoy the venue’s popular 'Bandeoke' nights every Thursday, where guests can sing live with a band on stage. Thursdays will also host the big box quiz with immersive horse racing action coming soon.

 Fridays and Saturdays will offer live bands showcasing local talent from around the area. There will also be private karaoke rooms available as well as private dining rooms for bookings.

BOX will offer a 90-minute Bottomless Brunch daily, priced at £34.95, showcasing a selection of main meals and unlimited drinks, ranging from prosecco and cocktails to beer and non-alcoholic options.

BOX’s signature menu includes items such as loaded fries, Neapolitan-style pizzas, hand-formed burgers, and sizzling kebabs. Sharing platters will also be offered. The venue will also feature festive menus and special seasonal offers. 

Arc Inspirations CEO Martin Wolstencroft said: "Sheffield's rich sporting heritage and passionate community make it the perfect home for BOX, and we’re excited to introduce a new kind of venue to this vibrant city. Whether you're here to catch every moment of live sports, challenge friends to our interactive games, or just enjoy an unforgettable night out, BOX offers something for everyone.”

 Northumbrian operator takes on second lease with Star Pubs 

The Coach Inn, located In Lesbury is to be taken on by Star Pubs and will be receiving a £330,000 refurbishment, with licensee of Newcastle House in Rothnbury Chris Greaves taking the reigns. 

Greaves said: “I used to live in Alnwick, so knew The Coach Inn in its heyday."

He continued: “Proof of its potential is already evident. Locals have really embraced having their pub back, albeit without a fully functioning kitchen and a dated decor. The addition of a new kitchen will broaden the pub’s appeal and extend its catchment area.”

Work is scheduled to be completed by mid-November after it’s re-opening in February following a four-year closure. The site is also set to receive a new and extended kitchen with dining areas and a snug paired with a garden. Three new jobs have also been added to the three that have already come up this year.

Star business development manager Tammy Molson commented: “Having listened to villagers’ concerns we decided to reopen the pub with limited facilities earlier in the year until we were able to start the refurbishment with Chris.

“His manager Gemma Scollick and chef Tracy Hayes have been embraced by the local community and done a great job making The Coach Inn the beating heart of the community. Chris is a very experienced operator, and as ex-chairman of Alnwick & District Roundtable   understands the commercial landscape locally. I wish him, his team and the local community many happy days and evenings ahead and a fantastic end to the year.”

Montgomery group open The Bat and Ball in Oxfordshire​

Montgomery Group have announced the new launch of The Bat and Ball, a country pub located in Cuddesdon in Oxfordshire, the second venue belonging to the group's founder Ben Moss.

Set to welcome customers through the door in November, the venue will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week with a dining space to accommodate more than 50 guests, offering 48 seated covers and additional standing space for up to 10 people.

The establishment will also host five guest rooms which will include three king suites, one king and a double. The pub garden will have 48 covers.

Moss said: “It brings me so much joy to be bring this community pub back to life in the form of The Bat and Ball and continue our mission of creating inclusive spaces where everyone can come together and enjoy great food, drinks and hospitality.

“The pub will preserve the essence of a classic British pub, where people can either pop down for a pint with their dog in tow or indulge in a proper dining experience with serious bottles of Bordeaux."

The menu is set to be curated by Michelin-star-trained executive chef Nat Berney, and will offer pub classics with ingredients sourced from local suppliers. Meat is set to be provided by third-generation butcher, The Calnan Brothers in Watlington, with seafood sourced from Flying Fish Seafood and organically grown vegetables from DBF Banbury. All items will be delivered daily.

The wine list will be centred around small growers, serving a mix of local ales alongside an array of Estrella beers. Located close to Little Milton, where it’s sister pub The Lamb Inn is based, the Bat and Ball dates back to the 16th century. 

Circus in Covent garden sold to Meat Liquor​

The property extends to approximately 7,000 square foot. The ground floor sales area extends to approximately 5,000 square foot. The lease is expiring in 2036, with the current rent passing is £185,400 per annum. Meatailer intend to open the venue January 2025, returning to an area they know well and have traded in for a number of years.

Punch opens trio of pubs ​

Punch Pubs has opened three sites within its leased and tenanted estate in the space of one week. First to welcome customers through the door was The Straw Bear pub in the Peterborough suburb of Whittlesey.

Next to open was The Grey Horses Inn in Carlton-in-Lindrick, Worksop, run by father and son duo Ken and Jack Jarvis, who said they were “eager to further develop” the pub.

Rounding off Punch’s​ busy week of new openings was The Salmon Leap in Totton, Southampton,  which launched with publican Shane Light, the son of one of Hampshire’s longest-serving landlords Eric light, at the helm. Read more here​.

Club heat se to open in Coventry​

Club Heat, will open its doors at a brand-new location on Friday 4 October. 

Occupying more than 10,000 square feet and spanning across two floors, the new venue will blend live performances, DJs, and live sports entertainment. 

Club Heat owner John Barrett commented: "The traditional gentlemen's club model has become somewhat stale, and with the rapid decline of nightclubs, we saw an opportunity to evolve.”

He continued: "Club Heat has always operated beyond the typical format of a gentlemen's club. By incorporating after-party vibes, live DJs, and major sporting events, we've attracted a diverse clientele—30% of our trade is female. Our new space allows us to take this concept even further."

The new site will feature a ground floor "Berlin-style" nightclub, hosting internationally renowned DJs, with a dance floor paired with performance cages, and a show room with an additional stage wrapped by a bar set to showcase an array of performances including burlesque, cabaret and striptease. 

LED screens will also broadcast major sporting events. The site will also offer a VIP lounge, in the style of a whiskey-and-cigar lounge. 

Barrett said: "We're beyond excited to unveil what we've created. The new Club Heat isn't just a club—it's an entertainment experience that could set a new blueprint for the future of late-night hospitality." 

 The Globe has opened in Moorgate​

The Globe in Moorgate in the City of London has reopened after an extensive 5-week refurbishment.

The Globe remained partially open during the refurbishment, and is just a short walk from both Moorgate and Liverpool Street Underground Stations.

The pub has been renewed, whilst keeping its original look and feel inside. Changes include new white and gold exterior as well as refurbished toilets and additional tills. The site was once two pubs but is now a large single site with 4 bars boasting historical elements, including being the actual birth place of Poet John Keats.

Food offered at the site will include pub classics like beer battered fish and chips, steaks and burgers, as well as an array of new dishes. A new food menu is also available and guests will have access to an extensive drinks’ menu, showcasing a wide selection of craft beers, ciders and cocktails.

Sharing his thoughts on the refurbishment, General manager, Matthew Gradley said: “We are delighted to be fully open and can’t wait to serve our loyal guests and welcome new ones."

Following the refurbishment investment into the pub, five new jobs have been created for the local area, with the team now fully functioning and ready to run the establishment.

The Jolly Gardeners reopens with new look​

The Jolly Gardeners pub in Putney, a Mitchells & Butler's site, has reopened this September following an in depth four week refurbishment. The pub’s garden has also undergone a full renovation, with an interior touch up alongside.

The team pride themselves on community spirit and traditions and continue to host their Tuesday quiz nights. The Jolly Gardener has also introduced boxing to their sporting line-up. Guests can also enjoy pub classics, sirloin steak, classic fish and chips and delicious burgers, as well as roasts every Sunday. Along with a new revised food menu, the site is will showcase a varied drinks menu, offering a wide array of craft beers, ciders and new  cocktails.

General manager Shane Bell said: “This has been a wonderful opportunity to breathe new life into the local pub. Although it has always been dependable to friends and neighbours it was beginning to look tired as the last refurb was over 10 years ago. We are reopening with a bang and looking forward to welcoming guests”.

Following the refurbishment and investment made at the pub, several new jobs have been created for the local area, including a new head chef.

Amber Taverns has been acquired by Epiris​

Amber Taverns, which operates 178 freehold wet-led pubs, has been acquired by Epiris – the owner of The Big Table that counts Bella Italia and Las Iguanas among its brands Epiris has announced its Epiris Fund III, advised by Epiris LLP, has agreed to acquire Amber.

Although the financial terms have not been disclosed, the group said this is Fund III’s fifth investment, following Delinian, LoneStar, Pure Cremation and GSF Car Parts.

Amber’s sites lie predominantly in the north of England, the Midlands, Scotland and Wales. “Comprising well-invested, contemporary pubs at the heart of their communities, Amber’s portfolio is uniquely focused on the hybrid ‘operator-managed’ business model,” Epiris said. Read more here​.

Heartwood opens third pub with rooms​

Award-winning multiple operator Heartwood Collection has opened its third pub with rooms, The White Hart in Lewes, East Sussex.

The White Hart, which dates back to the 18th century, welcomed customers back through its doors on Tuesday 1 October after an extensive multi-million-pound refurbishment.

Located in the centre of the market town, the pub, which has 23 boutique rooms, has been transformed with wood panels to the front of the building and a new dining room plus a terrace to the rear.

Overlooking the South Downs, the historic site, which was previously a coaching inn, will boast a seasonal and sustainably sourced menu, created in line with Heartwood’s three-star rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association. Read more here​.

• Check out the previous property round up ​here​​​.​​

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