£480,000 Investment To Reopen Historic Leicestershire Village Pub After Seven-Year Closure

A historic Leicestershire village pub – said to date back to the 1250s and to have been a haunt of Dick Turpin* – is set to reopen after a seven-year closure, thanks to a major refurbishment that will start in early October.

The £480,000 investment in The Cock Inn in Sibson is being undertaken by Heineken-owned Star Pubs and its new licensee, Jason Billingham, who has over 20 years of hospitality experience. The investment aims to put the shuttered local back on the map as a high-quality, independently operated, dog-friendly pub that serves great food and acts as a hub for the community. The Cock Inn is expected to reopen by late November, creating approximately 25 new jobs.

The overhaul will carefully renovate the exterior of the Grade II-listed, thatched pub, repainting it and adding new signage and lighting to enhance the centre of Sibson. A 45-seater courtyard garden will be developed at the rear, complete with festoon lighting and attractive planting.

The internal revamp will preserve The Cock Inn’s character and charm, retaining the layout with its cosy nooks and snugs and restoring features such as old flagstone floors and beams. The sympathetic upgrade will incorporate heritage colours, William Morris-style wallpaper and traditional furniture. Pictures of the pub and the surrounding area through the years will adorn the walls. Other improvements include brand-new toilets, a kitchen refit and an overhaul of the cellar with state-of-the-art dispense equipment to ensure consistently perfect pints.

The Cock Inn’s food will be freshly prepared from scratch using locally sourced produce whenever possible. The seasonally changing menu will focus on pub classics while also offering a selection of more gourmet signature dishes. Stone-baked sourdough pizzas and Sunday roasts will be specialities, and the pub will open on Christmas Day, serving a festive menu with all the trimmings.

On the drinks front, customers can look forward to a wide range of options, spanning barista-quality coffee, cask ales, a carefully curated wine list, cocktails and spirits from local distilleries. Meanwhile, four-legged companions will be well catered for, too, with complimentary doggy treats and bowls of water.

In addition to offering excellent food and drink for all occasions, Jason is keen to restore The Cock Inn as a focal point of village life where residents can gather. To that end, part of the building will be available for functions such as weddings and birthday parties, and the pub will host activities to bring people together. Plans include a regular quiz, weekend acoustic music and open-mic nights showcasing up-and-coming local talent.

Jason also runs The Wheel in Ticknall, which he successfully relaunched in 2026 after a five-year closure.

Jason says: “I fell in love with the character and history of The Cock Inn and know the area well, as I live in Tamworth and often come out this way. Residents are desperate for The Cock Inn to reopen. We’ll be consulting with them every step of the way and evolving The Cock Inn in line with their feedback.

“We’re reopening in the run-up to the festive season and will be going all out to celebrate The Cock Inn’s first Christmas in seven years.”

Star Pubs’ Investment Manager Craig Foweather adds: “We’ve been undertaking a lot of essential repair and renovation work over the past few months and are delighted to finally be breaking ground on the main refurbishment works. Jason has a proven track record and is the ideal person to take the helm at The Cock Inn. His plans are spot on; The Cock Inn will be a fantastic local for residents and a destination pub for people from across the wider region.”

*Rumour has it that Dick Turpin sought refuge at the pub, hiding up the chimney and putting his horse in the cellar to avoid the authorities.