Brakspear boosts managed pub estate with Grade II listed George Hotel
The George Hotel, in Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, is the pub operator and brewer’s fifth managed site. Brakespear has set itself a target of 10 managed sites by 2017.
Situated on Shipston’s main square, the George is a food led-business with a restaurant and private dining and function rooms. It also has 16 letting rooms.
Brakspear said the site would undergo a major refurbishment to bring it up to the standard of the other four managed houses. While that is being planned, trading will continue as usual.
The pub will be overseen by operations manager Mat Aket, while executive chef Antony Ely will be tasked with developing a food offer similar to that in Brakspear’s other managed pubs.
Prime location
Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies said he was delighted to have acquired the “large, characterful site in a prime location in the Cotswolds”.
Davies explained: “The George has exciting potential as a destination food pub serving an affluent local market, and as a location for an overnight or weekend stay in one of the most visited areas of the country.”
He added: “As with all our managed pubs, we’re keen to develop the George in a way that retains its individuality and heritage, while adding elements that have worked at our other sites.
“We’re looking forward to starting the refurbishment later this year.”
The George is Brakspear’s second managed site in the Cotswolds, joining the Porch House in Stow-on-the-Wold, which opened in October 2013.
Brakspear opened its first managed pub, the Bull – in its hometown of Henley-on-Thames – in 2013.
Halfway there
Davies said: “With five pubs now trading, we are halfway towards our target of 10 managed houses. While this goal isn’t set in stone, we believe it is achievable within the next couple of years – provided we are able to acquire pubs which fit our criteria.
“We have built a managed structure with Mat, Antony and others at our head office, which will support an estate of this size.”
Brakspear’s other managed pubs are the Running Horses in Mickleham, Surrey, and the Chequers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
