New gastropub group Makers of Hospitality unveils 10-year expansion plans

The company, which was founded by Bex Wilkins and Sarah Robinson, two former directors of Peach Pubs, opened its first pub last month. 

The Wildmoor Oak in Wildmoor, Bromsgrove, has reopened following an 18-month closure and a £500,000 investment by Heineken-owned Star Pubs to refurbish the building throughout and install a new energy-efficient kitchen and cellar.

Wilkins and Robinson, who previously held marketing and pub director roles respectively at Peach Pubs, have partnered with head chef Peter Jackson from Michelin starred Carters of Moseley in Birmingham.

The Wildmoor Oak has an 84-cover bar and restaurant as well as a refurbished outside area that has added 90 covers on benches and high tables and a covered patio.

Jackson has created the menu based on his love of British produce.  The menu features snacks of warm focaccia, foraged wild garlic butter, and whipped pig lard and onion; scotch egg and gherkin pickle, with starters of pig’s head terrine with celeriac slaw and Worcester Black Bomber rarebit and sourdough. Mains include 28- day dry-aged flat iron steak with peppercorn sauce and fries; and hake, asparagus and butter sauce with sides of charred hispi cabbage and salsa verde.

The menu will change every six to eight weeks, with new dishes coming onto the menu on 10 July.

“When we learnt the site was under redevelopment, we immediately knew it was one for us,” says Wilkins. “We’re local to the area – I grew up in Bromsgrove – and knew that the area was missing a place to find seasonal food and good drinks with great hospitality. That is our focus – real hospitality and restaurant standard food in the setting of a proper yet easy-going pub.”

Once established, Makers of Hospitality plans to offer support and training to other hospitality businesses to drive growth in the sector, from marketing to menu development, front and back of house training and financial support.