St Austell searches for sites for new flagship London pub
Cornish brewer St Austell is searching for a suitable site to open a new flagship pub in London - it's first outside of the South West.
Managing director, James Staughton confirmed the plans and appealed for anyone with a potential venue to come forward.
He said the pub, which he hoped to name the Cornish Arms, would be a showpiece for the brewery and all that the county of Cornwall has to offer.
"We are very much looking for a potential site," he said. "It's been a personal dream for a long time. But we are in no rush. It has got to be the right site.
"The plans are that it will be a showpiece of all that is great about Cornwall, as well as a showpiece for our beers. We want it to be a meeting place for those with a connection or affinity to the county and we want it to help create opportunities for the local economy there."
Staughton said he hoped everything in the pub would have originated from the county, including tables and chairs made from trees grown in Cornwall, slate floors from Delabole Quarry and artwork from artists and craftsmen such as those based in St Ives.
Food and drink, including the brewers own ales, Cornish pasties and fish landed in Cornish ports such as Looe and clotted cream would also be on offer. He said he also hoped to have a live web-cam in the pub showing surfing in Newquay and facilities for vistors to book a weekend away in Cornwall through the pub.
St. Austells currently has 169 pubs across Cornwall, Devon, the Isles of Scilly and Somerset.
"Realistically, we are looking for a leasehold site," said Staughton. "We have been talking to Punch, Enterprise and other estate owners to discuss if they are prepared to negotiate a free of tie lease and many have shown interest.
"This will be a move into the unknown and very much a one off. We are interested in areas south of the river or north-west London. Something that is waterside would great but we appreciate these are difficult to come by."
- Anyone with a suitable pub should contact Piers Thompson at piers.thompson@staustellbrewery.co.uk.
