Swindon brewer Arkell’s has acquired two outlets from Enterprise Inns as the 168-year business continues to develop its estate.
The family firm has bought the Fox and Hounds in Haydon Wick and The King’s Arms Hotel in Malmesbury, paying the market price for both and expanding its portfolio to 107 properties.
The Fox and Hounds opened around 1840 as a country pub but is now part of Swindon following the town’s western expansion 30 years ago. However, it retains a rural feel and is well-supported by the local community, according to Arkell’s.
The King’s Arms is the brewery’s first acquisition in Malmesbury. It has 12 letting rooms, two bars, a restaurant and a function room for up to 120 people.
Chairman James Arkell said: “These new purchases fit our strategy of continual investment in pubs and small town hotels which have a thriving community around them.”
He said breweries and pub companies had to continually develop to keep pace with changes in the licensed industry.
“We’ve always known this and adapt our estate of pubs accordingly.” He said. “That’s why we’ve been in business for more than 160 years, just like the majority of fellow family brewers across the country who understand the licensed trade better than anyone.
“People want more from pubs than just a great pint of beer and someone to chat to – although those are essential.
“Good food is important for all licensed premises and a small country town hotel should be friendly and cosy with room for a good party.”
Over the past six years Arkell’s has made a number of significant investments in pubs and hotels across the region.
In 2006 it bought The Bear Hotel in the centre of Wantage, significantly upgrading its bars and accommodation to make it a thriving town centre hotel.
The following year it acquired the 16th century 26-bedroom Lansdowne Strand Hotel in Calne, and in 2008 bought the iconic Riverside Inn at Lechlade, next to the most up-stream marina on the Thames.
In 2009 it turned its attention back to pubs and bought The Mason’s Arms at Meysey Hampton. Earlier this year it bought a closed Oxford pub reopening it as The Rickety Press. The pub, in Jericho, is once again thriving.
Alongside new investment, Arkell’s, which brews a range of beers including 2B, 3B and Kingsdown as well as seasonal ales, continually invests in its estate of pubs and earlier this year spent a six-figure sum upgrading The Bull Hotel, Fairford, which it has owned since 1973.
