First look at new Vagabond bar
0 of 8
On Thursday 11 September, Vagabond Wines opened its latest bar in London’s Paternoster Square, near St Paul’s Cathedral.
The venue, located at the former restaurant featured in Channel 4’s blind date TV show, First Dates, has benefitted from an investment of more than £1.5m.
Described as a" relaxed and stylish space", the bar has more than 100 wines on offer by the glass. Digital wine flights, seasonal sharing plates and the brand’s flagship self-pour taps are also available.
The Morning Advertiser (The MA) visited the new site for its grand opening this week to get a first look at what it has to offer.
Vagabond managing director Christobell Giles told The MA the company fell in love with the “iconic” site as soon as they saw it.
“Our key demographic is corporates so we have designed the space around that as well as our wine. We are really excited [about the new site] and the team are thrilled they get to work in such an amazing space with such a beautiful view.
“This is a really pivotal opening for us, we are so excited, it’s the first big investment and first new store since Majestic have come in and we couldn’t be happier with it”, she continued.
Shepherd Neame injects £950k into city pub
Shepherd Neame has reopened the White Horse and Bower pub in central London following a £950k refurbishment.
Located near London’s Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, the historic “landmark” pub reopened on Wednesday 10 September after being closed for three months while work the renovation took place.
To compliment the redesign, the food and drink offering has also been overhauled a program of events has been introduced.
Shepherd Neame operations manager Ryan Torrie said: “It is a fantastic pub in an incredible location, and our aim with this project has been to honour its history while breathing fresh life into it.
“Combined with our vibrant new food and drink offer and the great program of live events we have lined up, we are confident that the White Horse and Bower will quickly re-establish itself as one of Westminster’s most vibrant destinations.” Read more here.
LUDO Sports & Live Lounge to open third site
LUDO sports bar brand is set to open its new flagship venue in Cardiff later this month.
Backed by St Austell Brewery and ETM Group, LUDO Cardiff, located on St Mary’s Street, will open on Thursday 25 September, taking the brand’s total number of sites to three.
With room for more than 700 guests, the bar will offer a line-up of live music, premium live sport screenings, freshly prepared food, craft drinks and local beers, as well as competitive socialising in the form of interactive darts and basketball.
The beer garden features a UHD wall screen, which the brand claims is the largest in Cardiff, as well as a fully retractable roof.
CEO of LUDO Sports and Live Lounge Ed Martin said: “We’re bringing a venue to Cardiff that combines the atmosphere of live music, the spectacle of sport, and the energy of a buzzing social scene - and that’s exactly what LUDO delivers.
“With the city’s biggest outdoor UHD screen, a year‑round beer garden with a retractable roof, and a line‑up of incredible food, drinks, and entertainment, this flagship venue will redefine nights out in the city.”
The LUDO concept launched in May 2023 in Bath, followed by its site in Exeter in 2024.
St Austell Brewery CEO Kevin Georgel added: “We are extremely pleased with the continued growth and success of LUDO Sports and Live Lounge and are excited to be opening our next venue in Cardiff, a city well known for a great night out.”
Top chef to open neighbourhood pub rooted in community
Head chef and owner of micro-farm and restaurant the Boat in Lichfield, Staffordshire Liam Dillon has unveiled his second venture - the Two Pigs in Barton-under-Needwood.
Open Wednesday to Sunday, the village pub focuses on quality, local, seasonal and sustainable convivial dining, showcasing modern pub classics with a twist.
Dillon outlined exactly what the pub is about and how it differs from his existing venue.
He said: “The Two Pigs was born out of a desire to create something more relaxed, more rooted in the day-to-day lives of the local community - a place where people can drop in for a pint or stay for a full meal.
“Where The Boat is more of a destination for refined dining, the Two Pigs is about warmth, familiarity and a bit of fun. The menu reflects that - it’s built around comforting, recognisable dishes, but we elevate them through technique, seasonality and the quality of our produce.” Read more here.
Red Engine shares details of new venue
Red Engine, the group behind Flight Club and Electric Shuffle, has announced the opening date and location for its latest new site.
Flight Club will open its doors on Friday 7 November at Eldon Square in Newcastle.
The latest addition, which takes Red Engine to a 38-strong estate, will have the semi-private oches that are a feature of the brand alongside plenty of seating options and an outdoor terrace. Read more here.
New BYOB nightclub launches
A new ‘bring your own bottle’ (BYOB) nightclub has opened its doors in Manchester.
Located on Wilmslow Road in Whitington, XLR Manchester is a 200-capacity site allowing guests to bring their own bottles to be consumed at the nightclub. A paid bar is also available.
The live music venue will charge between £10 and £20 for entry depending on the line-up in a bid to encourage younger drinkers back to nightclubs and grass music venues. Read more here.
St Austell Brewery reopens flagship pub after ‘landmark investment’
St Austell Brewery has reopened the Pedn Olva in Porthminster, Cornwall, following a major renovation.
The revamped beachfront venue features a reconfigured layout, refreshed interiors inspired by its mining heritage and coastal setting, and standout elements like a granite lobby feature and sculptural staircase.
With panoramic views of Porthminster Bay, the pub’s 27 redesigned bedrooms are complemented by a new 10-metre bar topped with a bespoke copper sculpture by local artist Shelley Anderson.
The updated layout also includes snug areas, a spacious dining room, and enhanced outdoor terraces, including a rooftop deck, all using natural materials.
Meanwhile, the food menu has been overhauled to showcase local produce, with dishes like grilled scallops, lobster butter fries, and charred watermelon salad, alongside classics such as fish & chips and cream teas. The drinks list features cocktails, curated wines from in-house specialists, and St Austell’s award-winning beers.
St Austell Brewery CEO Kevin Georgel said: “Our ambition was to create an exceptional year-round hospitality experience that reflects both the heritage and incredible location of the Pedn Olva. This is a landmark investment in our managed estate – a stunning, characterful venue rooted in its surroundings.
“I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved at the Pedn Olva. We’ve all missed it during its closure this year, but it’s now a flagship venue once again; a warm, welcoming space for all occasions.”
M&B revamps historic London pub
Mitchells & Butlers has revamped the Williamson’s Tavern in London, which is part of the pubcos Nicholson’s Pubs Collection brand.
Located near Mansion House Underground station, the Groveland Court pub, which dates back to the 1700s, has been refreshed throughout, boasting new furniture and updated interior.
In addition, its Martha’s Bar area has been transformed from a dining space into a more traditional and characterful cellar bar. The outside space has also been upgraded to increase standing space.
The food menu includes traditional fish and chips, steak and Nicholson’s pale ale pie as well as a spinach and falafel burger. There is also a wide selection of gin options alongside cask and craft beers plus world lagers.
General manager of the Williamson’s Tavern Sabrina Sivell said: “ Myself and the team are so excited about the remodel and can’t wait to welcome back our existing guests as well as meet new ones.”
Admiral injects £450k into market town pub
Admiral Taverns has injected £450k into a community pub in Cumbria.
The Kings Arms on Main Street in Egremont welcomed customers back through the doors on Thursday 14 August following an investment of more than £450,000 from the pubco.
Inside, the pub has been split into three areas – the main bar, a snug area and the games room – that have all been modernised with new fittings, fixtures, flooring and furniture throughout.
Two new dart boards and a pool table have also been introduced as well as several new 65-inch screen televisions complete with Sky Sports and TNT channels.
Outside, the Kings Arms boasts new lighting and signage along with a refreshed, spacious beer garden seating more than 15 people at the front and approximately 25 at the back.
Part of Admiral’s award-winning community wet-led operator division, Proper Pubs, the venue will offer a range of live entertainment alongside a variety of drinks promotions and a focus on supporting the local community with fundraising initiatives.
Operator Louise Blair said: “I have loved every second of my time here at the Kings Arms over the last six years but watching this transformation come to life has been a real highlight for me.
“The pub looks fantastic, and it was a pleasure to welcome our customers, both old and new, back through the doors.”
Loungers opens 300th site
Café bar and restaurant group Loungers has opened its 300th site - Antico Lounge in Alton, Hampshire. The milestone venue opened last month. Read more here.
To be featured in the Morning Advertiser’s property round-up please send details and high-res landscape images to rebecca.weller@wrbm.com. See the previous round-up here.
