Brucan Pubs to open fourth site

Brucan Pubs, founded in 2018 by James Lyon-Shaw and the former head chef of The Club at The Ivy Jamie Dobbin, has announced its fourth opening. 

Brucan is leasing The Star at Witley in Surrey from Star Pubs and Bars. It will undertake a £400,000 joint refurbishment with Star before reopening the pub’s doors in late August, creating 25 new jobs.

The investment will transform The Star into a “great quality village pub with a focus on British seasonal fare, community links and Brucan’s signature hospitality”.

The Star will have a weekly-changing menu of traditional dishes and daily seasonal specials, including British game, meat and fish, as well as a bar menu of pub classics, and Sunday lunches. 

Brucan Pubs uses local sourcing and can expect 45-day aged rare breed steaks from traditional and regenerative farms. Fish will be wild, sustainable and sourced from day boats on the South coast with the daily catch.

The establishment will also feature rotating cask ales and a curated wine list. 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 dining.

The founders currently operate three other pubs under the Brucan Pubs umbrella: The Greene Oak (Windsor), The Drumming Snipe (Mayford) and The Greyhound (Finchampstead). In addition, the duo run the village store and farm shop, Goswell and Birds (Finchampstead).

Lyon-Shaw said: “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. 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.”

Ron Barnes, Star Pubs area managers, said: “We’re delighted to be joining forces with Brucan Pubs to give The Star the investment it needs to thrive and maximise its potential. James and Jamie are passionate about quality food and drink, and have built up a superb collection of destination dining pubs, each with its own unique feel

“Their approach is ideal for The Star. It will be a fantastic local as well as an exceptional drive-to pub for those from further afield.”