Spirit doubles up on Premium Pub offering

Situated on Kew Green, the pub, previously known as the Rose & Crown, will re-open as The Cricketers next Thursday (19 September) after a £260,000 refurb. It will feature a higher-end food and drink offering than Spirit’s other managed venues which fall under a number of brands such as Flaming Grill and Chef & Brewer.

The Cricketers’ general manager Paolo Corgiolu said: “We’re really excited to bring The Cricketers to our guests, having created what we hope is exactly what they are looking for in their local pub as well as attracting guests from further afield to taste our food and enjoy the modern surroundings.

“We hope they will feel at home with its country feel as well as proud of their local town’s rich sporting history that will be on display within the pub. With a wide selection of delicious food and drink on offer, there’s something for everyone at The Cricketers.”

Cricket history​

The menu , developed by head chef Tracey De Villiers, is inspired  by Great British Pub food, with small plates and sharing boards including a half pint of prawns with garlic mayonnaise and duck liver pate with crusty bread.

Main courses offer choices such as rosemary, garlic and parmesan crusted rack of lamb served with Jersey royals and steamed asparagus; and pan-roasted chicken breast with wild mushroom and stilton mousse, crispy pancetta and broccoli.

Seventeen craft ales and 15 different gins will also be available at The Cricketers, which has been renamed as a nod to the rich cricket history in Richmond and so pays homage to the quintessentially British sport within its décor, also incorporating an upgraded seating and decking area.

Social havens​

Spirit Pub Company is currently advertising a variety of jobs across all of its brands with BigHospitality Jobs (find out more and apply here). Earlier in the year, a specific Spirit recruitment campaign was advertising to fill roles in The George – which it confirmed would be the first venue under the new concept.

"Located in affluent areas, our pubs will attract a discerning guest that has high expectations," the advert read. "They will put as much emphasis on the atmosphere and service as they do on the quality of the food and drink and we will deliver all four elements in total synergy, with passion and flair. 

"These pubs will look and feel like independent locals, offering a social haven for every occasion."

Shortly after the opening of The George in April,​​a spokesperson for the Burton-based firm told BigHospitality the pub was an 'independent trial' and no decision had been made on whether to progress the concept. But following the success of that first venue and the opening of the second next week, more Premium Pubs may well be on the cards.

Meanwhile, Fayre & Square, Spirit's 157-strong family pub offering, has become the latest brand to tap into the rising popularity of American food concepts with the launch of its new autumn menu.​​The menu, which launched at the beginning of the month, features new dishes such as the All-American Hotdog, Double-Chicken Waffle Burger and Onion Ring Stacker.