Six-Figure Investment To Reopen Well Known Leicestershire Village Pub

A £250,000 refurbishment is set to begin next week to reopen a prominent Leicestershire village pub that has been closed since February.

The investment in The Crown Inn on Bradgate Road in Anstey is being undertaken by Heineken-owned Star Pubs and new licensee Kam Chaggar, who grew up in Leicester and runs The Britannia in Queniborough. The investment will transform the historic local – believed to be one of the oldest pubs in the village – into a high-quality, family- and dog-friendly pub serving freshly prepared food and featuring a new private dining room.

Work will begin on 3rd August, with the pub expected to reopen by late September, creating around 25 new jobs.

The Crown Inn is thought to date back to the 1850s or even earlier. The refurbishment will carefully restore the exterior of the building, with new paintwork, signage and lighting enhancing its appearance and the surrounding village.

The rundown garden will be transformed into one of the nicest in the area, with an outside bar, festoon lighting and new seating for up to 140 people.

A complete internal revamp will give The Crown Inn a smart, contemporary look while retaining the pub’s character. Original features, including timber floors, fireplaces and the horseshoe-shaped bar, will be restored, while new furniture and soft furnishings, decorative wallpaper, lighting and floor tiles will complete the look.

The pub will offer something for everyone, with a cosy snug, spacious bar and dining area, as well as a new private dining room created from a disused storage space.

Kam wants The Crown Inn to build a reputation for great food and drink. The pub will serve an extensive, seasonally changing menu featuring ingredients sourced from local suppliers. Dishes will range from pub classics, such as homemade pies and fish and chips, to curries and pizzas, with options for every occasion, from light lunches and afternoon teas to celebratory dinners. Sunday roasts with all the trimmings will be a speciality.

Customers will also be spoilt for choice when it comes to drinks, with the selection spanning cask ales, cocktails, quality coffee and carefully selected wines. Four-legged friends have not been forgotten either, with water bowls and treats available for free.

The plans aim to reinstate The Crown Inn as a social hub for Anstey. Activities including live music, a monthly quiz and sip-and-paint nights will help bring the local community together.

Says Kam, who has worked in hospitality since leaving school: “There’s a lot of affection for The Crown Inn locally and people have been worried it might not reopen. I’ve loved rebuilding The Britannia and my aim is to do the same at The Crown Inn. We want to bring it back to life as a welcoming village local that’s a hub of the community, with a focus on food that also attracts people from the wider area. We’re fortunate to have recruited some highly experienced chefs.”

Adds Craig Foweather, Star Pubs investment manager for Leicestershire: “The Crown Inn is crying out for a long-term publican who is committed to reviving it, and we’re thrilled to be joining forces with Kam. Although the pub is in a sorry state, it still has a very special atmosphere, which the refurbishment will bring out. We’re pulling out all the stops; The Crown Inn will look gorgeous when the works are completed.”