Urban Pubs & Bars injects £500k into city pub
Independent London-based pubco Urban Pubs & Bars has announced the reopening of the Highbury Barn Tavern in North London.
The historic pub, which dates back to 1840, welcomed the community back through the doors on Thursday 17 July and a reopening event is planned for Friday 25 July.
Following a £500,000 refurbishment, the family-friendly venue, which is a short walk from the Emirates Stadium, has benefitted from upgraded bar and dining areas, a newly built back bar and refreshed outdoor seating.
With capacity for 200 guests across a 100-person bar, 60-seat dining room, and a 40-person snug, the space balances traditional pub charm with a relaxed ambience.
A major focus of the relaunch is the food, and the Highbury Barn Tavern has welcomed new head chef Sara O’Neil, formerly sous chef at the Gatehouse in Highgate Village, to lead the kitchen.
With a menu shaped by local suppliers, dishes on offer will include modern pub classics alongside desserts inspired by the venue’s Victorian dairy-house roots, such as vanilla set custard with poached apricots, and cheeses from La Fromagerie.
Sunday roasts will also be available and the pub will also host regular promotions, including a Monday night wine offer and deals on seafood, such as oysters, on Thursday’s. Saturday’s will focus on sports and good food with big screen action and a match-day menu.
Urban Pubs & Bars managing director Chris Hill said: “Highbury Barn Tavern is one of the area’s most historic pubs, and we’re proud to be investing in its future.
“With a refreshed design, a food-led approach championing local producers, and a warm welcome for both families and football fans, we’re excited to open our doors again this July.”
Heartwood opens George & Dragon in Marlow
Heartwood Inns has opened the George & Dragon in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, its seventh pub with rooms.
The George & Dragon has undergone a multi-million-pound refurbishment, carefully preserving the building’s listed features while introducing Heartwood’s signature warm, quirky style, with thoughtful nods to the local area throughout.
Inside, the newly renovated bar and dining rooms offer space for 200 guests with a seasonally changing menu, created in line with Heartwood’s Three Star rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association. The carefully curated drinks list includes local beers from Rebellion brewery.
Outside, a newly created courtyard and front terrace provides space for an additional 50 covers, offering views of Marlow’s iconic bridge and Higginson Park, where Heartwood attended Pub in the Park earlier this year.
Upstairs, the pub boasts 17 boutique bedrooms, some of which are suitable for families or dog-friendly, that have been renovated.
The Teddington-based pubco said the George & Dragon opening marked a “significant step” towards its ambitious target of having more than 400 rooms across its estate by December 2026.
Heartwood CEO Richard Ferrier said: “We are delighted to be opening The George & Dragon, our 32nd Heartwood Inn and seventh pub with rooms in 16 months.
“It is an iconic pub in a beautiful town that we have been tracking for several years. To finally see it brought to life is a proud moment for the whole Heartwood team.”
Earlier this month, Heartwood also announced the acquisition of 56-bedroom site the Potters Heron Hotel in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, from Pebble Hotels. The venue is set to undergo a multi-million-pound refurbishment and reopen in Spring 2026.
Marston’s unveils new family concept
Marston’s has announced the launch of its new family pub concept - Woodie’s
Selected existing pubs within the group’s estate will be fully refurbished into the new concept with the Skymaster in Warrington, Cheshire being the first to be rebranded and set to open at the end of July.
Each new-look site will have family-focused spaces include Woodie’s Den - a woodland-themed area with games, craft activities and special events such as discos, karaoke and quizzes plus a sweet factory. Read more here.
Joseph Holt to revamp one of Manchester’s oldest pubs
Family brewer and pub retailer Joseph Holt is about to begin a £1.8m development of one of Manchester’s oldest pubs.
The Shamrock in Ancoats is to get a new refurbishment and extension of the pub, which dates back to 1808. The pub was taken over by the Joseph Holt brewery in 2019.
The Shamrock became a gathering place for the area’s Irish and Italian communities at the turn of the 19th century as they made their homes in the central Manchester neighbourhood. Read more here.
Herts Pubco launches first venue
Newly established hospitality company, Herts Pubs Company, has launched its first venture, the Cock, a restored 16th century coaching inn on Hitchin High Street.
The pub, which is thought to be 450 years old, is set to open on Friday 25 July, following a sensitive refurbishment, and will offer modern British dining with a strong focus on provenance and craft drinks.
The space includes a 46-cover dining room, a 15-cover private dining area , a lounge and bar with statement oak bar top, and an enclosed patio garden for alfresco service.
Operations manager Adam Msetfi leads the project. He said: “We have been hard at work creating a premium pub offer rooted in quality British produce, designed to serve the local community while also appealing to visitors from further afield.”
Multiple operators take on third Star Pubs lease
North-west multiple operators, Julie Panaro and George Catterall, have taken on a Star Pubs lease for the Feilden’s Arms in Mellor Brook, Blackburn.
It is the couple’s third lease with Star Pubs, their others being the Butler’s Arms in Pleasington and the Hospital Inn in Bamber Bridge. The Feilden’s had previously been run under temporary management.
Star investment manager Andy Bowden said: “I am delighted Julie and George have taken on the Feilden’s Arms. It needed the right operators for it to realise its true potential.”
The couple and Star Pubs have undertaken a joint £465,000 refurbishment of the Feilden’s Arms, which will see it reopen in mid-August as a family and dog friendly traditional village pub offering live sports and entertainment. Read more here.
Historic Birmingham pub to reopen with new operator
A landmark Victorian pub in Birmingham is set to reopen under a new operator following a two-and-a-half-month closure.
The Anchor Digbeth, which is located in Birmingham’s Irish Quarter, will reopen mid-to-late August 2025 with new operator – Peter Connolly – at the helm.
The Grade II-listed building designed by James and Lister Lea claims one of the oldest continuous public house licences in the city dating back to 1797. Read more here.
Scottish pub to undergo renovation and expansion
The Oak Tree Inn in Loch Lomond is set to benefit from a multi-million-pound renovation, including the opening of a new waterside lodge.
Originally opened in 1997 by Sandy and Lucy Fraser, the venue will undergo redevelopment to expand the site and make it more accessible and introduce EV charging points.
A new waterside lodge will also be opened as part of the project to expand the site, which is in the heart of Balmaha, offering hearty meals and cosy rooms with views across the loch.
Supported by a £1.25m funding package from Bank of Scotland, the expansion will create around 32 additional jobs for the local community.
Sandy Fraser said: “When we opened our doors in 1997 and reached £300,000 in turnover that first year, I knew we were onto something special. But I could never have imagined just how much we’d grow from there.
“We’re now opening a new lodge, evolving into a full-scale hospitality business, and we’re still just getting started. Demand keeps growing, and it’s incredible to see people who visited as children now returning with their own families.”
Brunning & Price expands pub portfolio
Brunning & Price has acquired the Jolly Farmer in Blacknest, Hampshire, as it seeks to grow its 89-strong portfolio.
It followed a “relatively quiet 2024 in terms of acquisitions,” according to CEO Mary Willcock.
Brunning & Price now has the financing structures and support team in place to step up its number of single-site acquisitions, Willcock added. Read more here.
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