MY PUB: The Olde Coach House, Ashby St Ledgers, Warwickshire

Located a couple of miles north of Daventry and between Coventry to the west and Northampton to the east, this food-led pub also offers accommodation and was much called for by residents who had been without an operational pub on the site for a while.

Here, founder and owner of the group, Mark Higgs, tells The Morning Advertiser all about the Olde Coach House.

The pub

Freespirit Pubs took on the lease of the pub in September 2024, following almost two years of closure. As soon as the site became available, we had countless messages from local residents encouraging us to look at it – so when the opportunity came, we knew it was something special.

Set in the historic village of Ashby St Ledgers in Warwickshire, the pub sits in a place steeped in English heritage; most famously known as the location where Guy Fawkes and his conspirators worked on the Gunpowder Plot at the Manor House. We’re perfectly positioned close to the market towns of Rugby and Daventry, with the M1 only minutes away, making us a destination for both locals and travellers.

The pub offers 11 comfortable hotel rooms (soon to be 14), a large dining room, lounge bar, private dining room and a village bar. Outside, we have a fantastic garden, ideal for parties and events, along with three patio areas – perfect for enjoying late-summer evenings.

The publican

I’m Mark Higgs, founder of Freespirit Pubs and proud BII Licensee of the Year 2017. Since starting the business in 2019, we’ve grown a collection of destination dining pubs across Warwickshire and Oxfordshire – always with a people-first philosophy.

Developing our teams and creating warm, community-focused pubs is at the heart of everything we do.

Our general manager, Sylwia Zychowicz, previously general manager at the award-winning Castle at Edgehill, returned to us after some time travelling and reconnecting with her family in Poland.

She joined this project from day one and, in just 12 months, has rebuilt the business from scratch – re-establishing relationships in the village, building a talented team and helping shape a pub that is now truly valued by both locals and visitors.

The trade

We are very much a country pub and dining destination with about 17% of weekly sales coming from accommodation.

We draw customers from Daventry and Rugby (both 10 minutes away), and from Northampton – only 15 minutes farther.

After a long closure and several years of inconsistent reputation under previous operators, we’re rebuilding organically, and already see clear growth. Over the next 24 months, we’re confident we can add a lot more sales in additional trade through expanding accommodation, growing our food reputation, hosting more large celebrations and special occasions, and developing our events calendar.

The team

At Freespirit Pubs, our structure allows GMs to focus entirely on guest experience and team development.

Our central ‘home team’ supports each pub with accounts and stock control, supplier negotiation and management, and all marketing – from social media to in-house materials – tailored to each site.

Under the Freespirit brand, we work on HR and recruitment support.

This means our on-site teams can stay where they should be – on the floor, delivering genuine hospitality rather than sitting behind a computer. We believe the more time we give our senior team to coach, develop and create an exceptional atmosphere, the better the experience for everyone.

The drink

When we reopened the pub, we built a drinks range focused on quality, craft and consistency.

Working closely with our landlord, Wells & Co, we hand-selected a great range of beers and craft products, alongside a popular cocktail menu that the team updates seasonally.

We also offer a thoughtful wine list, created with supplier input and strong team training, a wide selection of soft drinks and non-alcoholic cocktails, and rotating seasonal specials – including those brewed at Brewpoint, the home of Wells & Co.

Our guests love that the drinks list is well-chosen, not overwhelming – just great favourites done properly.

The food

Food is a huge part of our business and we’re proud of the standard we deliver.

We offer far more than the typical ‘pop in for a quick sandwich’ experience. Our aim is to provide a premium but accessible dining experience – somewhere you’d come to celebrate but also somewhere families feel comfortable bringing the kids for an early supper.

Our menu balances beloved pub classics, a selection of a la carte dishes using top-quality, fresh ingredients and weekend specials for adventurous diners.

We have a team of four full-time chefs, supported by our central kitchen ops team. Menus change seasonally and champion local suppliers, with a focus on simple, strong, well-balanced dishes executed consistently.

The events

We’re steadily building our events calendar, which currently includes seasonal food & wine evenings, summer garden parties, Christmas events and festive dining, live music on selected weekends, and private celebrations and bespoke parties in our private dining room.

As we grow, we plan to introduce additional experiences such as tasting events, outdoor dining in summer and curated themed evenings.

The future

The next two years are exciting for us. We’re planning to increase our accommodation from 11 to 14 rooms, continue investing in our gardens and outdoor spaces, grow our reputation as a destination dining pub, introduce new event concepts and expand our offering for weddings, celebrations and corporate stays.

Our long-term focus is building a thriving, sustainable business that serves both the community and visitors for many years to come.