The Pony Group’s latest venture is billed as an ‘extension’ of the pair’s highly-rated Chew Magna flagship The Pony, which is located a five-minute drive away.
The pub was launched last week by Lottie and Josh Bryant, another brother-and-sister duo, with a simple offer that aims to provide a pub for the local community.
The Pelican is now serving beers, ales and ciders led by Bristol Beer Factory and Wilding Cider, as well as a wine list featuring guest wines from neighbours The Wine Room.
The opening menu is billed as a selection of carefully curated bar snacks, such as pickle pots and crisps made at The Pony using produce from its market garden and eggs from local hens, tinned fish and cured meat from Somerset Charcuterie.
However, the team have grander plans for the site with the addition of 10 bedrooms currently in progress and set to launch in spring/summer 2025.
The room development and guest experience will be overseen by Holly Eggleton, as part of The Pony offering.
The idea is that overnight guests will be able to move between the places seamlessly, with the addition of bicycles and a complimentary shuttle service.
The team plan to build experiential stay packages around The Pony’s restaurant, gardens and Cookery School.
“We have always wanted to have accommodation as part of The Pony family, it’s been an aspiration of ours for years and we’ve kept a lookout for the right location,” Josh and Holly Eggleton say.
“We used to go to The Pelican as kids and have fond memories of it, so it’s a natural extension for us to give it a new lease of life while growing The Pony experience beyond the restaurant.”
As well as The Pony the Eggleton’s run fish and chip restaurant group Salt & Malt; Bristol pub The Kensington; and modern vegetable-led Root restaurants, which has sites in Bristol and Wells.
