Barworks founder Marc Francis-Baum is set to reopen the former Peasant pub in Clerkenwell as George & Dragon this September.
The Grade II listed, 110 cover venue on St John Street will span two floors, with a neighbourhood pub serving elevated classics and a curated drinks offer on the ground floor.
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Upstairs will house 60 cover restaurant Island, led by Michelin-starred chefs Tom Brown and Brad Carter, serving a surf and turf menu focused on British produce. The concept previously operated as a residency at Mare Street Market King’s Cross.
The opening marks the latest addition to Barworks’ portfolio, which includes Two Floors, the Starman and Mare Street Market in Hackney and King’s Cross.
Francis-Baum said the aim was to preserve the building’s historic character while creating “a great local for Clerkenwell”.
Heartwood invests £250k in Histon pub refurbishment
Heartwood Collection has reopened the Boot in Histon following a £250,000 refurbishment as part of its wider investment programme across the existing estate.
The pub reopened on 27 August with refreshed interiors, new soft furnishings and signage, alongside upgraded outdoor areas with new furniture, landscaping and planting.
The relaunch is being supported by a programme of community events including live music, craft fairs, family activities and weekly dog walks.
Heartwood Collection chief executive Richard Ferrier said the investment reflected the group’s “long-term commitment to the communities we serve” while continuing to improve its existing pubs alongside expansion.
The group is also preparing further openings this year, including the Meadow Lark in Trumpington, Cambridgeshire, and the Muddy Fox in Solihull, West Midlands.
Shepherd Neame reopens historic Southwark pub
Shepherd Neame’s Duke of York in Southwark has reopened following a major refurbishment led by experienced licensees Darren and Janet Wellman.
The pair, who took on the Borough Road pub in February, have overseen a sympathetic restoration of the building, which dates back to around 1800, retaining its traditional character while introducing a more flexible floorplan with bookable semi private areas.
The Wellmans also operate four other Shepherd Neame pubs in and around London, including the Cheshire Cheese, Spanish Galleon, Princess of Prussia and White Swan.
The Duke of York is now being run by general manager Lorenzo Nicoletti and offers Sunday roasts, Thai food from the Pad Thai Boys, live music and a range of Shepherd Neame ales and lagers.
Greene King sells Edinburgh pub to private operators
Greene King has sold Middletons Bar on Edinburgh’s Easter Road to experienced private operators for an undisclosed sum.
The traditional community pub, located close to Hibernian FC’s Easter Road Stadium, is popular with local residents and football supporters.
Christie & Co handled the off market sale on behalf of Greene King, with the property attracting strong interest from prospective buyers.
Senior business agent Simon Watson said the deal highlighted “the ongoing demand for well-located community pubs across Edinburgh”.
The new owners are expected to reopen the pub following the acquisition.
Norman’s co-founder to open Hackney neighbourhood bar
Norman’s co-founder Elliott Kaye is set to open his first solo venture, Marrion’s, on Hackney’s Morning Lane on 10 September.
The neighbourhood bar will open Thursday to Saturday evenings alongside Sunday brunch, with an offer designed to cater for both drinks and dining.
The drinks list will centre on classic cocktails, including a monthly rotating house martini, alongside Spanish vermouths, wines from £5 a glass and Victoria Málaga as its sole draught beer.
Food will follow the simple, nostalgic approach associated with Norman’s, with dishes including devilled crab rarebit, pork schnitzel, moules frites and cheeseburgers.
Kaye, who previously worked at Lyle’s, The French House and Leroy before co-founding Norman’s in 2020, said he wanted Marrion’s to feel “warm, convivial and a bit buzzy”.
New pubco prepares second Henley opening
Former Rosa’s Thai and State of Play Hospitality operations boss Jonny Bramwell is preparing to open the second site for his new venture, Symposium Pubs, in Henley on Thames.
The Duck will open on the final weekend of September in the former Duke site, which previously operated as Mexican restaurant Pachangas.
The venue will be repositioned as a premium high street pub, with shuffleboard, bar billiards and arcade games alongside a concise menu of pub classics.
Symposium launched its first site, Brakspear pub the Three Horseshoes, in May and is targeting an eventual estate of three or four pubs.
Bramwell said future opportunities could include a sports bar and larger food focused country pub around Henley and Reading.
Multiple offers for £450k Yorkshire village pub
The Aldwark Arms near York has been sold for an undisclosed sum after attracting multiple offers.
The currently closed village pub was marketed by Christie & Co off a freehold asking price of £450,000 and went under offer within weeks following a best and final offers process.
Set across around 0.65 acres, the property includes several drinking and dining areas, a trade garden, car park and owner’s accommodation.
The site also benefits from planning permission to extend the existing pub and construct a separate accommodation block.
Christie & Co regional director David Cash said the level of interest reflected “the quality of the asset and its location”.
Loungers opens new Bristol site
Loungers has opened Picaro Lounge at Cribbs Causeway shopping centre in Bristol, adding another site in the group’s home city.
The new Lounge occupies a top floor space at the shopping centre and offers the group’s all day food and drink menu.
The opening comes as Loungers continues to expand its Lounge Café Bars estate across the UK.
Admiral invests almost £650k across three community pubs
Admiral Taverns has invested almost £650,000 across three community pub refurbishments in Leicestershire, Tynemouth and North Yorkshire.
The Top Railway in Shepshed has reopened following a £230,000 joint investment with licensee Joe Finnigan. The refurbishment includes a new games area, upgraded beer garden and new fixtures, furniture and décor, while retaining original features including its traditional wooden flooring.
In Tynemouth, Admiral and licensee Charlie Paterson have invested £168,877 in the Dolphin, extending its bar and refreshing its lounge, outdoor seating and food and drink offer.
The pubco has also invested £250,000 in the historic Mother Shipton Inn in Knaresborough, which reopened on 27 August with an upgraded kitchen, refreshed interiors and an outdoor area seating up to 100 customers.
All three pubs will maintain a strong community focus through entertainment, sport, fundraising and local events.
