Tailor Made Steaks opens hotel
Tailor Made Steaks (TMS), the pub operator that specialises in steak, has opened a small hotel in Nettlebed, Oxfordshire.
Funding for Brakspear-owned site the White Hart was raised through the company's sale of the Percy Arms at Chilworth, Surrey. The Percy Arms was the company's first site, acquired on a Greene King lease in 2003.
The White Hart is divided into a 100-cover dining area, a 30 to 40-cover function room and has 12 en-suite bedrooms. TMS is awaiting planning permission to begin a £50,000 refurbishment on the listed building.
"Aesthetically the building looks very good so no cosmetic work is needed," said TMS founder Ted Docherty.
"But the two areas are conflicting with each other and we need to make some operational tweaks to the way the traffic enters the venue."
March will see the launch of a marketing campaign for the White Hart where locals can get half-price meals in return for their advice on ways to improve the bistro-style venue.
The White Hart features the TMS trademark of a butchers' counter where customers can choose their own steak.
TMS has a further project with Brakspear planned for the summer. The company has five sites including the King's Arms, in Litton, Radstock, Bath, the Warwick Arms in Clutton, Bristol and the Inn on the Hill, Haslemere, Surrey, which has eight bedrooms.
The Percy Arms was sold to company friend Alf Turner six months ago.
The site continues to have a strong focus on steaks, but also chicken, fresh fish, vegetarian dishes and gourmet burgers. The menu also features South African specialities such as bototie (£10.95). A Sunday carvery offers a selection of five meats.
