Brakspear, the Henley-based pub operator, is to open its second managed site in September, M&C Report has learnt.
The Grade II-listed Royalist in Stow-on-the-Wold was acquired by Brakspear last July and closed earlier this month for a major redevelopment. Brakspear plans to reopen the Royalist in September.
An interim tenant had been appointed to run the outlet, which has 14 rooms, while Brakspear decided how to operate it in the long term.
Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies said: “We purchased the Royalist for its outstanding location and rich heritage and are looking forward to developing the site in a way that will maximise its potential.
“The decision to manage this site ourselves is a relatively recent one, inspired in large part by our experience at the Bull on Bell Street, the pub we opened in Henley in March. The Bull is trading extremely well and we’ve learned a lot about how to successfully operate a managed pub alongside our tenanted sites.”
He added: “There is no master plan to grow our managed estate in terms of size or timescale and we are making decisions on a site by site basis.”
The Royalist is reportedly England’s oldest inn, with parts of the building dating back to the 10th century.
