Peach takes on 15th pub

Brookmans near St Albans in Hertfordshire is an Enterprise lease set in a suburb of Brookmans Park and will open in late October.

A refurbishment is now underway to restore the building’s 1930’s features and freshen it up. Brookmans will cater for up to 170 covers in its eatery with 70 covers outside and two private dining rooms with 30 covers each.

“Brookmans is a pub that caught our eye a few years ago now as it’s in a spot we like in a county we felt we could do well in,” said co-founder Hamish Stoddart. “We talked to Enterprise at the time but the pub went in another direction.

“Now, three years down the track, we’ve been working with Enterprise at the White Horse in Harpenden, a pub we acquired just six months ago. So when Brookmans came onto the market again, and then subsequently went into administration in July, we were well placed to run it for the administrators and ultimately ensure a smooth handover, which is what we’ve done.

“That’s meant we’ve got to know the measure of the place and been able to talk to the locals about what they wanted from the pub, putting us in a great place now we’re going to be here permanently. More importantly, it’s meant the community hasn’t lost its pub.

“We’re using our restaurant and operational skills to maximise the site which offers a lot of scope not just for eating and drinking but also for private functions and parties,” continues Stoddart.

“An experienced team from elsewhere in Peach and some new people front and back of house will ensure the refurbished pub puts a great place to eat, drink and socialise back onto the local scene.”

Co-founder Lee Cash told the Publican's Morning Advertiser earlier this year that the group is aiming for 22 sites by 2013.