Savills brings Gladstone Arms freehold to market at £1.12m
Savills has brought to market the freehold interest in the Gladstone Arms in Borough, south London, with a guide price of offers in excess of £1,120,000, reflecting a net initial yield of 6.75%.
The Zone 1 public house investment, located at 64 Lant Street, extends to 1,879 sq ft across basement, ground, first and second floors.
The ground floor comprises an open plan trading area with bar servery and seating for 34 covers, while the first floor includes a 20-cover function room, trade kitchen and dry store. Manager’s accommodation is located on the second floor, and a first-floor balcony provides seating for a further ten guests.
Situated within the London Borough of Southwark, the Gladstone Arms is positioned in a residential pocket close to Borough Underground Station on the Northern Line, with Borough Market approximately 0.4 miles away.
Stuart Stares, director in Savills’ licensed leisure team, said the market continued to see strong demand for well located and well let Zone 1 London pub assets, particularly in established neighbourhoods with a loyal customer base.
The Horns in Slitting Mill reopens after £400k Punch investment
The Horns in Slitting Mill has opened today (17 February) following a £400k refurbishment by Punch Pubs, with experienced operators Simon and Karen taking the helm.
The investment has delivered a full internal refresh including new lighting, furniture and décor, alongside external redecoration and new signage. Outdoor areas have also been upgraded with additional facilities, planters and a dedicated dog wash, while the pub will remain dog friendly in designated areas.
Food will sit at the heart of the renewed offer, led by head chef Arek, who has worked with the operators since the age of 16. The menu will feature bar snacks and sharers alongside pub classics such as venison casserole, pork and fennel ravioli and chicken schnitzel.
Punch operations manager Tony Riley said the refurbishment marked a bold new direction for the pub and expressed confidence in the new operators.
Golden Knight opens after £300k Proper Pubs investment
The Golden Knight in Sapley Park, Huntingdon, has reopened following a refurbishment costing almost £300k.
The pub forms part of Proper Pubs, the community wet-led division of Admiral Taverns, which operates more than 220 sites across the UK.
The investment has delivered a full internal refurbishment, including new flooring, fixtures, fittings and furniture. The sports-led offer has been strengthened with five large-format screens showing Sky, TNT Sports and racing channels, alongside an interactive darts board and pool table.
Externally, the pub now features refreshed décor and an upgraded patio within its spacious beer garden.
Operator Jez Davis, who runs the pub alongside his partner Lou, said the transformation marked an exciting new chapter for the site. Community initiatives will include foodbank collections, fundraising towards a defibrillator installation and events supporting local charities.
Proper Pubs operations director Matt Gurney said the refurbishment had created a strong platform for the Golden Knight to thrive as a community-focused local.
Christie & Co completes sale of Three Horseshoes in West Sussex
Specialist business property adviser Christie & Co announced the sale of The Three Horseshoes in Elsted, near Midhurst, West Sussex.
The Grade II listed country pub sits within the South Downs National Park and has been owned and operated by the same vendors for more than 30 years. The property comprises traditional bar and dining areas, an extensive beer garden, on-site parking and two-bedroom manager’s accommodation.
The freehold has been acquired by Cokey Sulkin, former COO of Arcade Food Hall and co-founder of Dirty Bones and The Black Dog in Vauxhall, following a confidential off-market process led by Richard Wood at Christie & Co. The sale price was undisclosed.
Sulkin said he plans to preserve the character of the 16th century inn while introducing an outdoor bar and wood-fired BBQ.
Wood described the pub as a “standout example of a traditional English country pub” and said the transaction reflects continued demand for high-quality freehold assets across the South of England, particularly those with established food-led trade in sought-after rural locations.
Black & Grey in Morpeth opens after £257k refurb
The Black & Grey on Newgate Street in Morpeth reopened earlier this month, following a combined £257k investment from licensee Nina Smith and Admiral Taverns.
The refurbishment has delivered a full internal overhaul, including new fixtures, fittings, furniture and flooring throughout, alongside a new bar and dining area, upgraded kitchen and refurbished toilets. A 60-inch screen has been installed to support live sport and entertainment. Original features such as the open fireplace have been retained as part of the redesign.
Externally, the pub has been repainted and fitted with new signage, with plans to introduce an updated beer garden seating up to 20 guests.
Smith, who has 27 years of hospitality experience, said the aim is to re-establish the venue as a family-friendly, dog-friendly community hub.
The drinks range will feature mainstream draught brands including Guinness, Cruzcampo, Carling and Stella Artois, supported by a cocktail list and a daily bottomless brunch offer.
Five Bells in Lower Halling reopens following £183k investment
The Five Bells in Lower Halling has reopened following a combined £183k investment from licensee Lloyd Slythe and Admiral Taverns.
The refurbishment has delivered a full internal upgrade, including new flooring, fixtures, fittings and furniture, alongside a new bar and dining area. Three 55-inch screens have been installed to support sport and entertainment, while original features such as the open fireplace have been retained.
Externally, the pub has been refreshed with new signage and lighting, and now features an upgraded beer garden with seating for up to 200 guests, complete with heaters.
Slythe said the aim is to establish the pub as a family and dog-friendly community hub, supported by a programme of regular activity including a fortnightly quiz, themed food nights and fundraising events in support of local charity The Bluebell Circle.
The Highwayman Inn in North Yorkshire brought to market
Christie & Co has brought to market the freehold of The Highwayman Inn in Sheriff Hutton, near York, with an asking price of £675k.
The established village pub comprises a bar and 80 cover restaurant and has built a strong reputation for its food led offer, with a focus on local and seasonal produce. Situated around 10 miles north of York, the property occupies a prominent position within Sheriff Hutton, which is known for its castle ruins and attracts both local and visitor trade.
Ian and Lisa Rushworth, who have owned the pub since 2015, are selling as they look to retire after more than three decades in the industry.
The sale is being handled by Alex Rex, associate director in the pubs and restaurants team at Christie & Co, who said the business offers an opportunity for an incoming operator to build on established trade, including further use of the beer garden, events and extended opening hours.
Indian Brewery opens first airport site at Birmingham Airport
The Indian Brewery Company has opened its first airport location at Birmingham Airport, in partnership with travel hub hospitality operator TRGC.
Located on the airport’s International Pier adjacent to the departure lounge, the new venue marks the brand’s third site and its first move into the travel sector. The restaurant serves its locally brewed craft beers, including Juicy Mango Pale Ale and Pekok Lager, alongside its Indian pizzas and breakfast naan sandwiches.
The offer also includes toasties and sides tailored to the airport environment, while the space incorporates the brewery’s modern aesthetic within a design suited to high footfall passenger traffic.
TRGC CEO Jon Knight said the launch brings a well-established Birmingham brand to a new audience, while Birmingham Airport commercial director Richard Gill said the opening further diversifies the airport’s food and beverage offer during a period of continued growth.
Indian Brewery CEO Jaspal Purewal said the site represents a milestone for the business, adding that the airport location will showcase its locally brewed beers and food to an international audience.
Simms Road Inn reopens in Wigan after £320k investment
The Simms Road Inn on Garswood Road in Wigan will reopen on 14 February following a £320k joint investment from licensee Jack Duffy, his parents Julie and Tony, and Admiral Taverns.
The refurbishment has delivered a full internal upgrade, including new fixtures, fittings, flooring and furniture throughout, alongside a new bar, snug area and dedicated darts space. Four televisions with Sky and TNT Sports have been installed to strengthen the pub’s sports offer. Original features, including two open fireplaces, have been retained.
Externally, the pub has been repainted and fitted with new lighting and signage, while the beer garden has been updated and now seats up to 72 customers.
The pub will also introduce a menu of traditional pub favourites alongside sharing platters, with Admiral Taverns expressing confidence in the site’s long term community role.
Gipsy Hill installs tank beer system at Westow House
Gipsy Hill Brewing Company has strengthened its long running relationship with Crystal Palace pub Westow House by installing a new tank beer system at the venue.
Located close to the brewery, Westow House was one of the first sites to permanently stock Gipsy Hill’s Hepcat IPA. The new installation means the pub will now serve Hepcat direct from tank, offering what the brewery describes as its freshest pint outside its own taproom.
The tank system has been introduced to improve beer quality and operational efficiency, removing the need for multiple kegs and reducing CO2 usage. The setup also allows for a continuous pour and aims to cut down on cellar handling and waste.
The installation is supported by The Fresh Beer Co, which will manage line cleaning, maintenance and refills, enabling the pub team to focus on front of house operations.
Gipsy Hill said the move reflects its commitment to investing in long standing local partnerships, while Westow House sees the installation as a way to elevate its core offer in a high volume, community led venue.
Lane7 to roll out 20 tech golf lanes
Lane7 has confirmed it is installing more than 20 high tech mini golf lanes from Social Rivals across its estate, marking one of the supplier’s first large scale rollouts.
The projection mapped putting lanes are already live at Lane7’s Manchester Deansgate site, with further installations planned in Newcastle and Bristol in the coming weeks.
Social Rivals’ compact 4 metre by 2 metre units use proprietary ball tracking and touchscreen technology, allowing up to eight players to compete across a range of game formats.
Lane7 Group managing director Gavin Hughes said the format had immediate appeal for the business, describing it as easy to install and well suited to competitive socialising venues.
The rollout follows recent investment by Social Rivals into its manufacturing capacity, enabling it to fulfil larger orders. The concept was first developed in 2022 at Putt Above in Birmingham and has since been adapted for wider hospitality and entertainment venues.
Social Rivals said the Lane7 partnership reflects growing operator demand for interactive, tech led gaming experiences within the competitive socialising market.
