Pictures: Pub openings - March 2016

Star Pubs & Bars

Five boutique bedrooms have been added village dining pub The Gregory Pub & Dining Rooms in Harlaxton, Lincolnshire.

A £170k joint investment by Star Pubs & Bars ​and licensees, Jo and Justin Chad has provided guests with accommodation for the first time.

The dining pub will now open to the public for breakfast and all day for coffees, teas and snacks.

The rooms have been individually designed to include 42inch TVs and have radios/iPod docking stations and espresso machines serving tea and coffee. 

The two largest rooms have contemporary freestanding baths as well as showers in the bathrooms. 

Stonegate

The Britannia pub at Monument, London, has re-launched after a £250,000 investment.   

The pub developed by Stonegate Pub Company now features craft beers, local ales, premium lagers, cocktails, wines and spirits.

Food includes freshly stone-baked pizzas, canapés, grills and sharers. 

The new interior design features reclaimed wood and leather booths.

Charles XII

The Charles XII pub, near York University reopened after a £210,000 investment.

Stonegate has installed an outside bar, a large state of the art BBQ and Sky and BT Sport.

The pub now hosts Cask Tuesdays with all real ales at £2.25 per pint. A Big Brew Off will see two local brewers, Great Yorkshire and Bad Co Brewing & Distilling, going head to head, competing to be Best Ale as chosen by customers, to then feature on the bar for a month.

Floods

Following the devastation caused by the Christmas floods, the Wagon and Horses in Lancaster has reopened.

Licensees Paul Tarry and Carole Crossley found their cellar and pub flooding from the nearby river in December, leading to £8,500 worth of beer and spirits stock being damaged.

The pub had to cancel 800 Christmas and New Year bookings. It has now reopened after a full refurbishment by Robinsons Brewery.

Henry's Cafe

Henry's Café Bar in Green Park, London, has reopened in a former art deco building. The new contemporary design from Stonegate has prominent brass features, reflective wall coverings, bevelled edged mirrors and an illuminated art chimney wall.

Seating areas include soft lounge chairs and leather booths, and have USB points and free wi-fi.

The drinks menu features 20 wines, four champagnes and craft beers while food includes burgers, puff pastry pies, sharers plates and make-your-own-salads.

Robinsons

Former traditional country inn The Alvanley Arms in Cotebrook has been refurbished and modernised.

Licensees Harry and Julie Challinor have made a joint investment with Robinsons Brewery, whose design team has rejuvenated the venue.

The pub has seen a structural overhaul. Obstructing walls have been removed to open up and improve the connectivity of the trading areas. A new bar has been built, housing four hand pulls serving Robinsons ales.

An old plant room has been converted into a new dining area, increasing the pub’s seating capacity. The décor features leather and velvet seating, fireplaces and a built in full height log store.

The garden now features a terrace which drinkers can enjoy with a view of the nearby lake.

Old Pack Horse

Robinsons has also reopened The Old Pack Horse​ in Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire.

The pub is located within a conservation area, and the brewery explained that the redesign aimed to deliver a fresh updated look, create a more female friendly environment and stay true to the pub’s character, heritage and location.

The pub has retained a rustic country theme, and opened the venue out to make the bar more accessible.

Head designer Leah Bond said: “Part of the brief was to retain a rustic country feel as well as making the pub more female friendly.

“The pub needed sensitive structural alterations; enabling the bar to become the new focal point and bringing the previously remote rooms, into the heart of the pub.

“To create that all-important relaxed and welcoming pub atmosphere, earthy tones were applied alongside the dispersion of heavily patterned wallpaper. To complement the new colour scheme, new lighting has been installed throughout to produce the perfect ‘mood lighting’.

“Two fireplaces have been restored back to their former glory; particularly welcoming at this time of year. We hope The ‘New’ Old Pack Horse offers the space, setting and extended drinks range that customers will want to enjoy again and again.”