Dark Star opens new site with top London gastropub owner

The pub, which previously traded as a cocktail bar, marks the brewer’s second venture with Heath Ball, owner of award-winning London gastropub the Red Lion & Sun, Highgate​.

It underwent an extensive renovation and refurbishment before opening to the public last week.

Ball said: “It’s taken longer than we’d originally envisaged to get this site together, but I think the result is stunning.”

Refurbish​

“It was clear from when we started looking at the site that we needed to both extend the building as well as completely rip-out and refurbish the original shell.”

The Lockhart Tavern will offer a range of cask and keg beers as well as spirits and a wine list similar to that of the Red Lion & Sun, which was named Best Wine Pub​ at this year’s Great British Pub Awards.

Dishes on offer include pan-fried minute steak with hand-cut chips and peppercorn sauce; 24-hour slow-cooked shoulder of lamb with masala and rice; and butternut squash risotto with gremolata.

Desserts include lemon posset with thyme syrup and shortbread; chocolate mousse with hazelnut praline; and cheese boards.

Pipeline​

Dark Star plans to open approximately 20 sites across the south-east over the next five years.

Ball added: “The progression of the pub estate is going really well and it’s looking like we have a healthy pipeline of sites to come on line in 2017.

“There have been challenges along the way, not least getting staff of the standard we demand – the amount of good people wanting to get into our sector is still pretty dire and is holding back faster growth.”