Sussex Inns expands to six sites

Sussex Inns has expanded to six sites, taking a substantive lease at The William Hardwicke at Bognor Regis, following a £275,000 refurbishment with Star Pubs & Bars.

Led by managing director Iain Brown, the Sussex Inns’ estate encompasses a range of hospitality venues including hotels, bars and a nightclub.

The William Hardwicke joins a portfolio made up of The Town House at Arundel, The Horton Inn at Wimborne, The Playground in Portsmouth, and The Vestry and Southgate Sushi, both in Chichester.

In order to appeal to the whole community, The William Hardwicke will now have a broad offer that changes throughout the day, including morning coffee and cake, all-day homemade food, sports screenings, and nighttime DJs, bands and dancing. The pub reopens this week, creating six new jobs.

“The William Hardwicke is the oldest and one of the biggest pubs in the town," says Brown. "It’s a Bognor Regis institution and well loved by residents. The pub has been a cracking venue in the past that has catered for all ages. We want to recapture that success with a chameleon offer providing great quality and service whatever the occasion.”

The joint investment has  upgraded The William Hardwicke throughout with a contemporary décor and fixtures and fittings. New features include booth seating with mini screens, a cocktail bar and a faux flower selfie wall. The project has also made sports a focus, with the installation of four screens inside and a weatherproof 80-inch screen outside.

The pub boasts one of the largest gardens in Bognor. The revamp has maximised the 200-seater space, adding an outside bar serving draught beer and a giant umbrella to cover much of the area in rainy weather. New gazebos at the front will provide sheltered seating for a further 40 people.

Sussex Inns is now looking for further leased and freehold pubs and hotels with development opportunities in affluent villages across southern England.  

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