Benson Blakes adds two new sites

Greene King tenancy the Six Bells in Horringer is to be run as a food-led pub under a company called Rural Kitchen, which also operates a wedding venue in Bury St Edmunds called Blackthorp Barns Weddings.

The company has the same directors as Fawkes Bars, which is the operator of Benson Blakes.

Tim Blake, founder of both companies, said the Six Bells would serve six-course meals featuring "intermediate" courses between starters, mains and desserts.

"It’s very much moving away from the idea of pub food," he claimed.

The Compasses pub in the village of Stansfield has been secured under the Fawkes Bars venture. There are plans to open a brewery there in 2014.

Blake said the brewery would be "fairly sizeable", at least 10 barrels, and would focus on keg beers.

He added that he’d like to secure another site as a brewery tap, which could be a Benson Blakes, by the end of next year.