Hydes commits £1.5m to refurbish The Boathouse
Hydes Brewery has announced a £1.5m refurbishment of The Boathouse at Parkgate, near Chester, as part of its wider estate investment programme.
The destination pub, located on the edge of the Dee Estuary close to the RSPB nature reserve, closed this week and is expected to reopen in early June.
The works will include the creation of a new outdoor trading space with an additional first-floor terrace overlooking the estuary, alongside a full interior refurbishment designed to modernise the 1850 building while retaining its character. The function room will also be upgraded to strengthen the site’s private events offer.
Hydes said the investment forms part of a multi-million-pound strategy that has seen more than £10m committed across its estate in the past two years.
The refurbishment is expected to create 25 new roles, including a general manager position.
Hansom Cab in Leicester reopens following £283k investment
The Hansom Cab in Humberstone Gate, Leicester, has reopened following a £283,757 refurbishment by Proper Pubs, the community wet-led division of Admiral Taverns.
The investment has delivered a full internal upgrade, including new flooring, fixtures, fittings and furniture, alongside a new main bar and snug area. Multiple screens have been installed to support live sport and entertainment.
Externally, the pub has been refreshed with new lighting and signage and now features a refurbished garden that can seat up to ten guests.
Operator Luke Charlton said this marks a new chapter for the site, with plans to introduce regular live music and karaoke nights, alongside community initiatives including foodbank collections and fundraising towards a defibrillator installation.
Rocket Room to launch activity bar at Market Place food hall
Rocket Room will open its first site this April at Market Place food hall in Leicester Square, introducing a new competitive socialising concept to central London.
The 3,500sq ft, 120-capacity venue will occupy the second floor of the building and combine axe throwing, darts, shuffleboard and beer pong within a bar-led format overlooking Leicester Square.
The model is designed to integrate with the food hall’s established hospitality destinations.
Rocket Room was founded by Mike Pearson of Elangeni Hospitality, with the concept positioned as a compact, commercially focused format aimed at driving dwell time and incremental spend.
With expansion funding secured, the business has a pipeline of 15 sites over the next two years and a longer-term ambition of 50 UK and international locations.
Talbot Inn in Cirencester to reopen
The Talbot Inn in Cirencester is set to reopen this month after being acquired by five local businessmen, in partnership with Arkell’s Brewery.
The Victoria Road pub, which has been part of the Arkell’s estate since 1877, closed in October following the retirement of its previous operators. The site has now been taken on under a new lease, with plans for a full refurbishment ahead of reopening.
The incoming operators said the aim is to return the venue to its roots as a community-focused pub offering quality beer, food and bed and breakfast accommodation.
Arkell’s, which operates 92 pubs across Wiltshire and neighbouring counties, has invested alongside the new team to support the reopening.
Brook and Badger opens in Fulham
A new gastropub, The Brook and Badger, has opened at 224 Munster Road in Fulham.
The site has been launched by publican Eamonn Manson, previously behind The Sands End, Brown Cow and Cross Keys, in partnership with pop art dealer Adrian Palengat.
The pub joins the growing Brook portfolio and sits alongside sister site Brook House in Fulham, which was runner up in the One to Watch category at the Top 50 Gastropubs awards this year.
The standalone building features a bar area and separate dining room, with an open kitchen visible from the restaurant. The food offer is led by chef James Scott and focuses on seasonal dishes alongside core pub classics.
The operators said the concept is positioned as a neighbourhood pub with a strong food focus, serving both Munster Road residents and destination diners.
Heartwood Collection acquires Lord Byron in Cambridge
Heartwood has acquired The Lord Byron in Trumpington, Cambridge, with plans to reopen the site in late 2026 following a significant refurbishment.
The pub will be rebranded as The Meadow Lark and operate as a 19-bedroom pub with rooms, marking Heartwood’s first such site in Cambridgeshire.
Plans include a full refurbishment of the bar and dining areas, alongside upgraded outdoor trading space. The venue will serve seasonal menus and a curated drinks offer in line with the group’s wider estate.
The acquisition takes Heartwood Collection’s portfolio to 35 pubs and pubs with rooms as it continues its expansion.
CEO Richard Ferrier said the group aims to create a venue that reflects its surrounding landscape and local community.
Spiteri family to open The Latimer in April
The Spiteri family are set to open a new neighbourhood pub, The Latimer, on Latimer Road on 21 April.
The opening brings together two generations of the family, including restaurateur Jon Spiteri and Melanie Arnold, alongside their sons Lorcan and Fin Spiteri, founders of Caravel, and daughter Molly Spiteri, business development lead at Koya.
The 50-cover pub will offer a seasonal menu led by Lorcan Spiteri, combining traditional pub dishes with more refined plates. A separate bar menu will support drink-led trade, while Sundays will focus on sharing-style roasts.
Fin Spiteri will oversee drinks and front of house, with a draft-led beer selection and wines on tap from Uncharted complemented by a concise bottle list.
The site will feature reclaimed materials and recycled furnishings, alongside a year-round street terrace.
Riverside Inn in Lechlade reopens after £350k refurb
The Riverside Inn in Lechlade, Gloucestershire, has reopened following a £350k refurbishment by Arkell’s Brewery.
The investment includes a series of operational upgrades, with bar and cellar works, a new glass wash and bottle store, walk-in freezer, improvements to the kitchen preparation area and the addition of a pizza service area.
Front-of-house enhancements include a rebuilt bar, updated lighting, new furniture and additional dining seating, increasing capacity by 28 covers.
The five-week programme was completed last month, with the pub reopening ahead of the spring and summer trading period.
Managing director George Arkell said the works would support the team during peak riverside trade while enhancing the overall customer experience.
Red Oak Taverns acquires Wheatsheaf in West Sussex
Red Oak Taverns has acquired The Wheatsheaf in Midhurst, West Sussex, as part of its 2026 acquisition strategy.
The freehold of the historic pub, which dates in part to 1621, was marketed by Fleurets at a guide price of £495k plus VAT.
Located within the South Downs National Park, the two-storey corner property comprises character bar areas, a dining space, function room, pool room and courtyard garden. The site was previously owned by Hall & Woodhouse.
Red Oak said the deal marks its first acquisition of 2026, following the recent expansion of its lending group to include NatWest alongside OakNorth.
The operator confirmed it remains under offer on additional sites and continues to target wet-led traditional freehold pubs.
Church Inn in Matlock reopens after £70k investment
The Church Inn in Church Town, Matlock, has reopened following a £70k joint investment from licensees Alan and Suzanne Campbell and Admiral Taverns.
The refurbishment has delivered internal upgrades including new fixtures and fittings, a new bar installation, and the creation of dining and snug areas. Original features such as the open fireplace have been retained.
Alan and Suzanne said the focus is on re-establishing the venue as a family and dog-friendly community local.
Poolhouse to open at 100 Liverpool Street
A new competitive socialising concept, Poolhouse, has opened bookings ahead of its launch later this month in Liverpool Street, London.
Created by the team behind Topgolf and Puttshack, the 21,000sq ft venue will span two floors and feature 20 full-sized pool tables across a series of private and semi-private suites.
The concept combines traditional pool hall design with integrated AI-powered game technology.
Each table is fitted with a chandelier incorporating the venue’s proprietary technology, projecting interactive gameplay directly onto the table surface.
Poolhouse said the concept aims to reposition pool within the competitive socialising market, targeting experience-led consumers seeking premium group entertainment in central London.
Burns Howff pub in Renfrew brought to market
Christie & Co has brought to market Burns Howff, a wet-led community pub in the centre of Renfrew, Scotland, with offers over £275k sought for the freehold.
Located close to Renfrew Town Hall and Canal Street, the pub benefits from strong local trade and good transport links to Glasgow and Paisley.
The venue streams live sport and includes a lounge space available for private hire, with potential to develop the functions side of the business.
The property also comprises three first-floor flats, including a studio, a one-bedroom and a two-bedroom apartment, generating additional rental income.
Owner Gayle Brown is selling after around 15 years of ownership as she looks to retire.
Traveller’s Rest in Derby unveils new function suite
The Traveller’s Rest on Ashbourne Road in Derby has launched a new function room as part of a £320k joint investment by licensee Andy Newton and Admiral Taverns.
The second phase of the refurbishment introduces a self-contained function suite with its own bar, private garden and capacity for up to 120 guests, targeting private hire, business events and community gatherings.
The initial phase, completed in December, included a full refurbishment of the bar and kitchen, new flooring, fixtures and fittings, and the installation of multiple screens to strengthen the pub’s sport and entertainment offer.
External upgrades included new signage, lighting and improvements to the rear beer garden, which seats around 100 guests.
Newton, who has operated the site for two years, said the new space expands the pub’s ability to serve local groups and events. The venue will continue to host regular quizzes, live music and charity initiatives as part of its community-led focus.
Breakfast Group partners with Laki Kane for Oxford Street relaunch
The Breakfast Group has partnered with immersive tiki brand Laki Kane to relaunch Burlock Rum Bar on Oxford Street under the Laki Kane name.
The partnership will see Laki Kane take up residence at the West End site, introducing its rum-led, experiential nightlife concept to a high-footfall central London’s location. It is expected to open later this month.
The venue will operate with a 3am licence and a more club-focused format, including a dancefloor and immersive cocktail programming.
The move marks a strategic return to central London for Laki Kane, led by founder Georgi Radev, formerly creative manager of Mahiki. The concept will feature rum tastings, cocktail masterclasses and its Spirit of Tiki brunch format, alongside a Caribbean-inspired food menu developed with chef Colin Brown.
The Breakfast Group said the collaboration strengthens its portfolio of experience-led bar concepts while positioning the Oxford Street site as a destination for premium late-night trade.
