"The reason I chose this site in Stockwell is mainly for the beer garden – in London especially you just don’t get a beer garden this big!
Star have been so supportive and so helpful with our ideas that we’re working together to create something truly special.”
A 'mammoth' new pub investment for Stockwell
Star Pubs' Investment: £495,000
Anticipated turnover following investment: £795,000+
The Apprentice candidate Priyesh Bathia, who starred in the 2026 series of the primetime BBC TV show, is set to open the new Elephant & Barrel pub as part of a flagship Star Pubs investment project launching in June 2026.
Episode 1: Blueprints & Big Ideas
Episode 2: Taking Shape & Looking Ahead
The Elephant & Barrel's Transformation
The Elephant & Barrel
StoryA transformational refurbishment is set to turn a former Peruvian restaurant into a standout Central London pub.
The Elephant & Barrel
While the venue was in fair internal condition, the opportunity was clear. With a significant external beer garden and a prominent location between Stockwell and nearby Brixton, the site needed something special to unlock its full potential and create real wow factor for locals, visitors and commuters.
Enter Priyesh Bathia.
Already an experienced hospitality professional, with three other sites under his belt and a mobile cocktail business underway, Priyesh immediately saw the opportunity in the location, scale and outdoor space the site offered.
With 236 covers in total, including nearly 200 outside in a magnificent beer garden, the Elephant & Barrel represents a rare chance to create a true destination pub in London. Working locally with nearby Brixton Brewery, the pub will give Zone 2 commuters the chance to step off the Victoria or Northern line and straight into their new premium local.
Priyesh and his business partners have already demonstrated the strength of the concept: a unique Indian and English fusion venue "where British charm meets Indian hospitality".
At the heart of the pub will be a showstopping, Instagrammable, life-sized animatronic elephant, handmade in Kerala, India - bringing a memorable centrepiece to a pub designed to stand out.
The challenge for the team is the sheer size of the building, alongside the added pressure of completing the project in time for the summer season of football. Further episodes will follow as the project progresses… watch this space!
