The Pony Group launches The Pelican pub

Siblings Josh and Holly Eggleton, the duo behind south west outfit The Pony Group, have opened The Pelican pub in Chew Magna, north Somerset.

The pub is the sixth venue in The Pony Group's estate, joining The Pony Chew Valley, fish and chip restaurants Salt & Malt (Wapping Wharf and Chew Valley), neighbourhood pub and chophouse The Kensington Arms (Bristol), and the modern vegetable-led Root (Bristol and Wells).

For The Pelican, the Eggletons have joined forces with life-long school friends and fellow publicans Lottie and Josh Bryant, also siblings, to launch the site. 

With the pub already open, the team plans to add 10 bedrooms, set to launch in spring/summer 2025.

"We have always wanted to have accommodation as part of The Pony family," say the Eggletons. "It’s been an aspiration of ours for years and we’ve kept a lookout for the right location. We used to go to The Pelican as kids and have fond memories of it, so it’s a natural extension for us to give it a new lease of life while growing The Pony experience beyond the restaurant."

Bringing the group together

The Pelican will form an extension of its sister restaurant The Pony, with idea that overnight guests will be able to move between the places via the addition of bicycles and a complimentary shuttle service.

The team plan to build experiential stay packages around The Pony’s restaurant, gardens and Cookery School.

For now, the pub offers beers, ales and ciders, as well as a wine list featuring guest wines from neighbours The Wine Room. There will soon be a programme of live music nights and events.

The opening menu is made up of bar snacks, such as pickle pots and crisps made at The Pony. There is also tinned fish and snacks from Somerset Charcuterie, such as fennel salami and blue cheese and cider pokers.

Local pizza truck Soul Dough will visit on Thursday to Saturday evenings, with a wood-fired oven built into a Land Rover. 

"Having run a pub in the valley for the past five years, we’re excited to be teaming up with old friends to bring something new to Chew Magna," add the Bryants. "We share Josh and Holly’s love for hospitality and for the Chew Valley area, so teaming up on this project has been the most rewarding experience and we can’t wait to welcome people through the doors."

Image: Ed Schofield

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