All of the pubs were part of its award-winning community wet-led operator division, Proper Pubs, which operates more than 220 sites across England, Scotland and Wales.
First to benefit was the Athelstan Arms in Bournemouth, which reopened on Thursday 30 October following an investment of £420,000.
Inside, the Athelstan benefited from new fixtures, fittings and flooring, boasting a nature-inspired colour scheme mixing earthy paint colours and bold patterned wallpapers.
A dedicated sports zone, featuring a new pool table, feature darts wall and four television screen complete with Sky Sports, TNT and horse racing channels, has also been introduced.
Outside, the beer garden has been expanded to seat up to 150 people, offering ample space for community events, and comes complete with a new terraced area featuring festoon lighting. For special occasions, the outdoor area can also accommodate a pop-up bar.
The pub celebrated its new look by hosting an 80’s/90’s themed event with a live singer, followed by a Halloween themed event the following evening.
Operator Matt England said he was excited to welcome everyone to the refreshed Athelstan and looked forward to supporting to community with a variety of events and fundraising for local causes.
Incredible investment
Admiral operators director for Proper Pubs Matt Gurney said: “The Athelstan Arms is such a brilliant community pub with so much to offer and I’m confident Matt will be able to unlock its full potential as a result of this incredible investment.”
The Steeplechase in Uttoxeter was the next to welcome customers back through the door, reopening with an evening of live entertainment and a DJ on Friday 7 November.
Admiral injected some £305,000 into the pub, which now has a more modern look and feel thanks to new fixtures, fitting and flooring throughout as well as six 65-inch televisions for showing live sport.
A new karaoke machine and sound system, pool table and darts board means the pub can also expand its regular entertainment offering.
Operator Adam Hollinshead will also be collecting food to donate to the local foodbank and raising money to have a lifesaving defibrillator installed at the pub.
Outside, the pub has been freshly painted with new signage and upgraded lighting also installed. An 85-inch television screen has also been introduced in the spacious garden area.
Regarding the Steeplechase, Gurney added: “Adam’s energy and passion for the pub is fantastic and he has been great to work with throughout this entire process.
“His extensive experience, coupled with his commitment to creating a community hub cherished by local residents, will be key to unlocking this pub’s full potential.”
The most recent pub to reopen was the Travellers Rest in Pontefract, which welcomed customers back on Thursday 6 November following an investment of nearly £320,000.
Vibrant décor
Inside, the Travellers Rest has been refreshed with vibrant décor in its separate lounge and games areas, including new fixtures, flooring, furniture and fittings.
An enhanced audio-visual system complete with several flat screen televisions for live sports and a dedicated karaoke wall have also been installed, along with a pool table and virtual darts boards in the games room.
New lighting and signage plus new additional seating has also been introduced in the pub’s upgraded garden area.
To celebrate the reopening last Thursday, operator Simon Davies hosted a champagne reception and buffet followed by a live music performance.
Davies has planned to host regular live music, bingo, quiz and pool nights at the pub and will also raise funds for the local food bank and for MacMillan, in honour of a close friend currently battling.
Admiral operations director for Proper Pubs Nikki Greenhalgh said she was delighted to welcome Davies to the Traveller’s Rest: “It’s fantastic to see how supportive the community has been since the pub reopened.
“I wish our operators the very best of luck for this next chapter and look forward to seeing them continue to build momentum and create a vibrant social hub that can be enjoyed for many years to come.”
The investments marked the second big capex spend for Proper Pubs in four months, with almost £900k having been injected into three other sites in August.
