Cornish Arms operators take on Dartmoor’s Ring of Bells
The operators behind The Cornish Arms, ranked number nine in the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list, have reopened The Ring of Bells following a refurbishment and new operating partnership.
Devon operators John and Emma Hooker, who also run The Blacksmiths Arms in Lamerton, have partnered with owner Richard Edlmann to relaunch the historic village pub.
The month-long refurbishment has upgraded the bar, dining spaces, kitchen and five en-suite bedrooms, while retaining the character of the thatched Dartmoor inn.
A new open-plan commercial kitchen has also been installed, supporting a refreshed food offer focused on West Country produce and elevated pub classics.
John Hooker said the pub was “a welcome addition” to the operators’ existing Devon estate, adding that the team was focused on bringing new life to the village inn.
Owner Richard Edlmann said the partnership would help take the pub “to new levels” after 14 years under his ownership.
DGB Hospitality Group to open ninth Liverpool venue
DGB Hospitality Group has acquired its ninth Liverpool city centre venue, with new concept The Black Horse and Rainbow set to open in the Ropewalks this summer following a £750k investment.
The Berry Street venue, currently occupied by Red Door, will undergo a major refurbishment ahead of a July launch, creating 25 jobs.
The site has a long hospitality history, previously operating as Trader Jacks, The Metropolitan and Red Door, with DGB saying it plans to honour the building’s heritage while repositioning it as a live music and social-led pub concept.
The venue will include a 250-capacity beer garden, heated terrace and function space, with the offer centred around continental beers, cocktails, barbecue food and regular DJs and live bands.
DGB Hospitality Group founder Sean Singleton said the project would bring “a sense of nostalgia back to the area” while investing heavily in the guest experience and outdoor hospitality offer.
Heartwood completes Black Horse reopening
Heartwood Collection has reopened The Black Horse following a three-month refurbishment, as part of its wider £1.5m investment programme across five pubs.
The Reigate site reopened last week (3 June) with refreshed interiors, a large extension and an upgraded garden space, alongside updated signage and décor designed to retain the pub’s heritage while introducing a more contemporary feel.
The reopening also ties into Heartwood’s wider “Reasons to Visit” campaign, which has introduced a programme of weekly events across the estate, including quiz nights, steak nights, entertainment evenings and community-focused events.
General manager David Luvara said the refurbishment had given the pub “a new lease of life”, adding that the extended layout and upgraded outdoor areas would help broaden its appeal across different occasions.
Hydes’ £1.5m Boathouse refurbishment nears completion
Hydes Brewery has appointed Chris Bell as head chef at The Boathouse as the pub’s £1.5m refurbishment enters its final phase ahead of reopening in mid-June.
Bell joins the site from Hydes’ sister venue, The Harry Beswick in Heswall, where he spent the past three years as senior sous chef. He has worked across the Hydes estate since 2016.
The refurbishment of the 19th-century coastal pub has included a full roof replacement, a new orangery extension, upgraded bars and a rooftop terrace overlooking the Dee Estuary.
Hydes said the investment was designed to position the venue as a premium destination pub, with interiors drawing inspiration from the surrounding estuary and nearby RSPB nature reserve.
Bell said the rooftop terrace would give the venue “a massive edge” for outdoor dining and summer bookings, while Hydes managing director Adam Mayers said the operator was aiming for an immediate “wow factor” when the pub reopens.
The redevelopment has also created 25 new hospitality jobs across kitchen and front-of-house teams.
Big Chill King’s Cross brought to market after more than 20 years
Savills and Etch have been instructed to market Big Chill, with the late-night venue available on either a leasehold or freehold basis for the first time in more than 20 years.
Located on Pentonville Road in King’s Cross, the venue spans around 10,000 sq ft across basement, ground and first floor trading space, alongside a substantial terrace area. The site also benefits from a 4am licence at weekends.
Current owner Richard Bigg said the group would now focus on its Spanish restaurant businesses, including Camino, Bar Rioja and Pintxito.
“We’ve done well and had lots of good times over 25 years with The Big Chill including the festival and the bars and we’ll look back fondly on the whole experience,” he said.
Savills director Paul Breen described opportunities of the site’s scale and licensing profile in Zone 1 as “exceptionally scarce”, while Etch founding partner Charlie Catterall said the combination of size and late licence would provide operators with “huge flexibility” in how the venue could be positioned.
Haslam family reopens Elstree pub after decade-long closure
Star Pubs has reopened The Plough following a £1.3m refurbishment led by the Haslam family, bringing the village pub back into use after standing derelict for the last 10 years.
The seven-month redevelopment included a £250k investment into the pub’s garden, which now features seating for 250 guests, an outdoor bar, large screen for sports and movie nights, and a dedicated children’s play area with sandpits, slides and table tennis. A new car park providing space for 50 vehicles has also been added.
Inside, the pub has retained many of its original features while introducing new spaces including a new lounge. The site also includes a 40-cover restaurant and a garden room leading onto the terrace.
The reopening marks the Haslam family’s third site with Star Pubs and takes their estate to eight venues.
Steve Haslam said the business had been “overwhelmed” by local support during the refurbishment, adding that the pub had already attracted more than 1,800 followers on Facebook ahead of reopening.
Star Pubs investment manager Nick Paul described the redevelopment as a “phenomenal job”, adding that the pub now had “so much to offer” local residents.
Proper Pubs invests £382k in Bolton community pub
Admiral Taverns reopened The Rose & Crown on 21 May following a £382,000 refurbishment under its Proper Pubs division.
The investment has delivered a full internal and external refurbishment, including new flooring, furniture and décor, alongside new darts and pool areas in the lower bar.
Outside, the pub has added covered social spaces, upgraded lighting and a children’s play area.
The venue is now operated by Ray Lester, who said community support since reopening had been “extraordinary”, adding that the operator planned to build the pub’s entertainment offer with live music, karaoke, quizzes and sports teams.
Proper Pubs injects £360k into Middlesbrough community pub
Admiral Taverns community division Proper Pubs has reopened The Saltersgill following a £360,000 refurbishment.
The investment has transformed the venue with new flooring, fittings and furniture throughout, alongside eight TV screens with Sky and TNT Sports, new darts boards and a revamped games area with a pool table.
Externally, the pub has introduced updated signage and lighting, alongside a refurbished beer garden with capacity for around 80 customers.
Operator Les Harker, who has run the pub for 20 years, said the reopening had already received strong feedback from customers and described the refurbishment as “a huge success”.