Coaching Inn Group hits 17-site mark and Camden Town Brewery reveals new-look ‘home of Hells’

Coaching Inn Group adds 17th site

The Coaching Inn Group has grown its estate of historic inns and hotels to 17 sites with the acquisition of the Rutland Arms Hotel in Bakewell, Derbyshire – at the heart of the Peak District National Park.

The 33-bedroom inn is the operator’s second purchase following the company’s £22m refinance with NatWest last year.

“The Rutland Arms is a fantastic addition to our business and we are very excited about returning it to its former glory,” The Coaching Inn Group’s chief executive Kevin Charity said.

“It’s location right in the centre of one of the UK’s busiest tourist towns provides us excellent opportunities to develop our premium offering through the rooms, dining and coffee shop areas of the business.

“A refurbishment of the whole hotel will start this month as part of an initial £750,000 investment. The Rutland now brings the Coaching Inn Group estate to 486 bedrooms, as we look to build toward a 20-site estate.”

Camden Town Brewery revamps ‘home of Hells’

Camden Town Brewery has given the on-trade a glimpse of plans to transform its original north London brewery into a brand-new food and drink destination.

Set beneath Camden’s railway arches where the now-Budweiser Brewing Group beer maker was founded in 2010, the new site will open in summer 2020 and feature a 50-seater restaurant, an extended taproom and outdoor drinking and dining space.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the continued transformation of our first home in Camden at Wilkin Street Mews,” Jasper Cuppaidge, founder of Camden Town Brewery said.

“As the home of Hells, we will continue to bring the freshest beer experience and now with the extensive changes, we’ll have the capacity and resource to be able to not only offer but also host one of the very best beer drinking experiences.

“It promises to be an oasis for beer drinkers, and the development will see the space become a community hub for beer, food, entertainment and education.”

Punch reopens North Yorkshire pub after £315,000 makeover

The Derwent Arms in Malton, North Yorkshire, has reopened following a £315,000 facelift from operator Punch.

The pub company behind around 1,200 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales, also revealed that publicans Alan Stewart and Sam Moseley – who have been running the site since August 2019 – will remain at the helm.

“We are really excited to be back open, welcoming customers old and new to come and see their new look local,” Stewart explains. “The pub looks great. Sam and I have lots of plans to bring the pub back to life ensuring the Derwent Arms remains the hub of the community.”

Punch’s managing director Andy Spencer added: “This is a significant investment by Punch with Alan and Sam who have already established their position within the Derwent Arms.

“By recognising great people like Alan and Sam, and continuing to work with them, we have together developed an even better pub for the area and local community.”

Stonegate unveils Essex pub after £300,000 makeover

Stonegate Pub Company has unveiled a new look for the Merchant in Brentwood, Essex, after investing £300,000 in the pub’s overhaul.

“It is incredibly exciting to unveil our new look to the people of Brentwood,” Paul Marshall, general manager of the Merchant, commented.

“We can’t wait for people to see and sample the new food and drinks menu and with the sporting season in full swing, we’re already looking forward to see the bar come alive with all the atmosphere.”

Nicholson’s makes bow at O2 Arena

Mitchells and Butlers-operated Nicholson’s Pubs has added the Observatory at London’s O2 Arena to its estate of nearly 80 sites pubs after the conversion of a Harvester restaurant.

“We are excited to welcome the Observatory into the Nicholson’s stable,” Will Prideaux, Nicholson’s operations director, said of the brand’s latest site, which opens on 21 February.

“This opening marks the start of the next stage of growth for Nicholson’s as we look to grow the estate further.

“We have identified a number of opportunities where we can evolve the next generation of great British pubs and look forward to bringing these to fruition.”

Punch adds Dog House to pub estate

Punch has added the Dog House in Norwich city centre, in Norfolk, to its estate of approximately 1,250 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales – part of a £34m investment in its people and pubs in the next year.

Discussing Punch’s latest acquisition, chief executive officer, Clive Chesser said: “We are pleased to welcome the Dog House into the Punch family and look forward to working together with our new publicans and their teams.

“We have plans to invest in the pub and relaunch in time for summer trading. We look forward to providing further updates as these plans progress, but in the meantime, the Dog House will continue to be open and trading as usual.”

Gibney’s plots London expansion

More than 80 years after opening in Dublin, Irish pub Gibney’s of Malahide will launch its first international site, in London, on 12 March.

Gibney’s London, run by Tony Gibney and his sons, will operate from the basement of chef Richard Corrigan’s critically acclaimed restaurant, Daffodil Mulligan, near Old Street.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be bringing a taste of Gibney’s of Malahide to London in time for St Patrick’s Day,” Tony Gibney commented. “My family have been in the Dublin licensed trade for five generations so opening across the pond is a big move for us.

“Moving beneath Daffodil Mulligan which was named after the daughter of Biddy Mulligan – a legendary Dublin street seller – made perfect sense.”

Shoreditch Bar Group adds Hoxton Pony to pub stable

Shoreditch Bar Group has added the Hoxton Pony in Hackney, east London, to its estate of late-night venues including Cargo, Hoxton Seven, Trafik and the Kings Head.

The 380-capacity venue, spread across two floors, was previously operated by Calabrese House before the three-site operator went into administration last year.

While the lease was initially valued at £1.5m, and an offer was accepted by Calabrese House management in August 2019, a winding-up petition was filed by HM Revenue & Customs before the sale’s completion.

Subsequently, Calabrese House was put into administration to protect the value of the Hoxton Pony’s lease and the winding-up petition was rescinded.

Puttshack pens Miami and Chicago leases

Indoor mini golf concept Puttshack, which completed a £30m equity raise with lead investor Promethean Investment last year, has signed leases for Stateside sites in Chicago and Miami.

The news follows the opening of its third London venue – at 1 Poultry Bank in November – and announcement of its debut US site in Atlanta, Georgia, later this year.

“Given Puttshack’s global headquarters are based here in the US, the expansion into the market was a natural fit,” Puttshack CEO Joe Vrankin said.

“Chicago is exciting as it is the birthplace of Puttshack – with our global head office based in the city. Miami is a real first for us as it is set to span across three stories, overlooking the iconic city skyline, it is set to be a unique, high-energy space.

“Our social entertainment experience is truly unlike any other – we are very excited to introduce Puttshack to Chicago and Miami.”

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