Roseacre Inn Invests With Star at Eighth Pub

Roseacre Inns is expanding its Midlands-based estate to eight pubs by taking its fifth lease with Star Pubs & Bars at The Axe & Square in Countesthorpe. 

Following a two-and-a-half-year closure, the pub will receive a £650,000 joint investment to upgrade it into a top quality traditional pub serving great food prior to re-opening in early December. 30 new jobs will be created. 

The extensive overhaul will transform the pub’s exterior, adding new signage and lighting and putting in an attractive terrace with café-style seating at the front. A stunning 80-seater garden will be developed at the rear.

An equally dramatic internal makeover will extend The Axe & Square into an outbuilding, doubling its size. The revamped pub will have 110 covers spread over a bar area, a spacious dining room and a cosy snug complete with a new log burner. A stylish new design will incorporate heritage colours, wood floors and leather-covered seating. 

The scheme will enlarge and refit the kitchen to enable freshly prepared food to become a focal point. Dishes will range from pub classics and Sunday roasts to à la carte specials, and the pub will cater for all occasions from light lunches to private functions. An extensive premium drinks offer will complement the food. To reinforce the quality, a barista-style coffee machine will be installed as well as a SmartDispense system to ensure consistently perfect pints. 

Roseacre Inns’ founder Michael Thomas says he remains positive about the outlook for pubs. Says Thomas: “I’ve been in the industry for forty years and seen good pubs prosper through all the ups and downs. We’ll continue to expand in the Midlands if the right sites are available. We specialise in large middle-market suburban dining pubs and, in my experience, they’re resilient even when times are tough. If you serve good food and drink in a nice environment people will always want to come out, socialise and forget their cares for a few hours. 

“Quality is vital, which is why we like working with Star - they have excellent sites, strong brands and invest heavily. It’s a good partnership, and they give us a fair deal.”

Comments Star Pubs & Bars’ investment manager Mike Smith: “Roseacre Inns are highly professional operators, and we’re delighted to be working with them again. They know their market inside out and deliver what their customers want at the right price. The consistency of their offer is superb, allowing them to compete with larger managed operators whilst providing the individual, independent feel that consumers increasingly seek.”

Roseacre Inns’ other Star pubs include the Dovecote at Narborough, The Beeches at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, The Beacon Hotel at Burton-on-Trent and The Heathcote at Leamington Spa. They also have The Waterside Inn at Mountsorrel, The Lime Tree at Whetstone and The Bull at Broughon Astley.