Kegworth Local To Undergo Revamp In Time For First May Bank Holiday

The popular The Cap & Stocking on Borough Street is to receive a £123,000 sympathetic internal and external upgrade by Heineken-owned Star Pubs and new licensees Julie and Andy Richardson, starting next week. The investment will take the pub to the next level and create the best beer garden in the village.

Work on the garden will start on 6th April and take three weeks, with The Cap & Stocking closed for a week starting 20th April for the interior improvements, reopening on 28th April in time for the bank holiday weekend.

Outside, The Cap & Stocking beer garden is going to be completely transformed to create a stunning, all-year-round outdoor space, with seating for 160 for al fresco eating and drinking. The garden will be on a number of different levels and composed of the pub’s pétanque court, Indian flagstone terracing, and grass, along with a mix of timber bench-style seating, barrel tables and chairs, and A-frame tables and benches, with new planters and festoon lighting adding to the atmosphere. The outdoor covered area will become an outdoor room, with new timber posts and a roof, a new outdoor darts board, wood cladding on the wall with a TV for major sports events, an exposed brick wall, and bistro-style furniture.

Funds are also being spent inside, giving the interior a fresher, brighter appearance while retaining the pub’s character and traditional look and feel. There will be wood panelling on the walls, with photos of the pub and local area being retained. The furniture will include a traditional leather-covered settle and reupholstered leather-covered stools. In addition, the lounge area will have a new floral carpet and curtains, William Morris-style wallpaper, deep-buttoned red leather fixed seating, and traditional pendant-style lighting.

The toilets are also being revamped as part of the investment.

The drinks offer will stay as before—a wide range of lagers and premium beers like Cruzcampo and Birra Moretti, as well as ciders, wines, spirits, and soft drinks, along with a selection of cask ales, including Bass and Timothy Taylor Landlord.

The food will include popular pub fare such as ploughman’s, chicken nuggets and chips, and roast potatoes and meat in a bap. The pub will also continue to host regular themed hot food nights by outside caterers, such as fish and chips, pizzas, and Persian food.

New licensees Julie and Andy Richardson are taking on the lease for The Cap & Stocking, having run it under a temporary agreement with their daughters, Sarah and Leighann, for the last 14 months. During this time, they have breathed new life into the pub, trebling trade. They have reinstated the pétanque court, where regular matches are now played, introduced two darts teams, weekly beer draws, Sticky 13 and bingo on alternating Thursdays, and a football card to raise money for village causes such as the infant school, church, and bowls ground. They also host regular quizzes, live music, and local entertainment. All of these activities will continue once the pub reopens.

Andy says: “The Cap & Stocking is a real family affair, with the four of us working behind the bar. We’re looking forward to showing off the pub once it’s been revamped. It will have the same feel, just better.

“We want to thank all our regulars and the villagers who have made us feel so welcome and supported us over the last year, and thank you to Ruby, a valued member of staff who’s been with us from the start. We love The Cap & Stocking and the atmosphere pubgoers create; we also love living in Kegworth and becoming a focal part of the community.

“The day we first opened the doors, we couldn’t move—it was so busy. So, goodness knows what it will be like when we open the doors once the refurbishment is finished. Happy days ahead!”

Says Craig Foweather, Star Pubs Investment Manager: “We’re delighted to be investing with Andy and Julie in improving the décor and comfort for customers and broadening The Cap & Stocking’s appeal. The garden will have a real wow factor and, as it is enclosed, will offer a safe space for families to socialise in.

“Andy and Julie have done a fantastic job breathing new life into The Cap & Stocking and encouraging villagers to use it again. They are very family- and community-focused, and it shows. I wish them continued success in 2026 and great weather for the garden.”