Brucan Pubs readies fourth venue

Brucan Pubs has announced its fourth opening within its fast-growing portfolio of pubs, after taking on The Star at Witley in Surrey.

Founded in 2018 by ex-ETM operations director James Lyon-Shaw (pictured right) and the former head chef of The Club at The Ivy Jamie Dobbin (pictured left), Brucan is carrying out a £400,000 joint refurbishment with landlord Star Pubs & Bars before reopening the pub’s doors in late August.

The investment will transform The Star into a quality village pub with a focus on British seasonal fare and community links.

Like Brucan’s other pubs, The Star will have a weekly-changing menu of traditional dishes and daily seasonal specials, including plenty of British game, meat and fish, as well as a bar menu of pub classics. Sunday lunches will be a big fixture.

“We search for sites that will sustain a high percentage of food sales and where we can build a strong business by optimising or transforming the current offer," says Lyon-Shaw. "The Star ticks all the boxes and is in our core operating area south west of London. Good freeholds rarely come to market and are either very expensive or extremely run down when they do. The tied model is proving an affordable way for us to access great pubs. Star are very easy to work with, and we’re keen to find more opportunities with them.”

The refurbishment will restore and refurbish the Grade II-listed, 17th century building throughout. Outside, the investment will landscape the garden and add a dining terrace, heated pergola and pods for year-round socialising.

Brucan Pubs also operate The Greene Oak in Windsor, The Drumming Snipe in Mayford and The Greyhound in Finchampstead. It aims to build an estate of 10 gastropubs in the next five years.

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