Pubs boss takes on third business

THE owner of two pub-restaurants in the Henley area has taken on a third.

David Holliday, owner of the Bottle and Glass Inn in Binfield Heath and the Hart Street Tavern in Henley, will re-open the Stag and Huntsman in Hambleden in January.

Mr Holliday, 42, has set up an umbrella company called Sika Inns, which he runs with business partner Alex Sergeant, 36, and leased the pub from the Culden Faw Estate.

The men will refurnish the pub’s nine rooms and the two self-catering cottages on the site.

They will be joined by award-winning chef Dom Robinson, who will work across the three sites.

Mr Holliday said: “It’s the sort of pub that any operator with a background in game and country hostelries would give their eye teeth for a chance at running.

“Our hope is to give the locals a pub they adore while also cooking food that people are willing to travel for and stay the night.

“The pub is beautiful as it is, we’re just adding our hospitality using game from the estate and suppliers that are on our doorstep.

“We’ll be keeping on all existing staff who wish to stay and adding, where needed, from our senior team across the business.

“We both have hotel experience, Alex in Bath at a 40-bedroom hotel, while I ran a boutique chateau in northern France.

“We’re also looking to grow our rooms offering at the Bottle and Glass in due course with a number of shepherd huts.”

Alex Dick, estate manager for the Culden Faw Estate, said: “We are thrilled that the team from the Bottle and Glass have taken a lease on the Stag and Huntsman and the estate owners, the Schwarzenbach family, are confident that they will take it from strength to strength, working closely with the estate which will continue to supply produce to the kitchen and pub. 

Mr Robinson previously held a Michelin star while running the Blackbird in Newbury, which has since closed. He was then group executive chef at the Claude Bosi Group in London.