SHIELPORTER

Brakspear has reopened one of its eight managed pubs, the George Townhouse in Shipston-on-Stour, after a major refurbishment.
Brakspear bought the George, a Grade II listed building, in May last year. The renovation embraced the whole site, from patio, bar and dining areas to the 15 en-suite bedrooms. The project, completed by Brakspear’s in-house design team, has given the pub an elegant yet casual feel, by skilfully blending contemporary, quirky features with the site’s Georgian heritage.
The George Townhouse offers a number of spaces for drinking and dining from the large, open bar with a wide range of cask ales, wines and a speciality gin list, to the 40-cover Pantry restaurant, the Carriage Room for private dining and the Garden Room overlooking the decked patio area.
Food at the George Townhouse is produced by head chef James Neve, with direction from Brakspear’s executive chef Antony Ely. Dishes are created from British or local and seasonal produce wherever possible, as evidenced in the Pantry’s ‘Within Five Miles’ English breakfast. Other food offers include ‘Sunday Family Serve Roasts’ and afternoon tea with Champagne and gin options.
Upstairs, the 15 individually decorated bedrooms come with en-suite rainfall showers and/or roll-top baths. An elegant heritage colour palette is offset by antiques painted in contemporary colours and dramatic graphic print wallpapers, while soft velvet, mohair and woollen furnishings and Egyptian cotton sheets add to the luxurious feel.
Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies said, “We’re delighted with the refurbishment, which has given the George Townhouse a new identity that sets it apart from other drinking and dining spots in Shipston and the surrounding area.
“ We’re confident it will quickly become popular with locals wanting a drink or bite to eat, diners looking for restaurant quality food in an informal setting, as well as the many visitors wanting to stay in the town overnight or longer.”
He added, “The refurbished George bolsters Brakspear’s presence in the Cotswolds, where we now have four managed pubs. While each will retain its own unique character, they will also have some shared elements across design, service style and food and drink offers, so that customers know what to expect from a Brakspear managed pub.”
Brakspear’s eight-strong managed estate includes three more pubs in the Cotswolds: the Church Street Townhouse in Stratford-on-Avon and the award-winning Porch House and the Grapevine, both in Stow-on-the-Wold, as well as the Bull on Bell Street in Henley-on-Thames; Running Horses in Mickleham, Surrey; Chequers in Marlow and the Pocket Watch in Shepherds Bush. The Grapevine closes this month for a refurbishment.