Popular village pub, The Royal Oak in Warboys, Huntingdon has recently reopened having been taken over by talented licensees Helen Pertoldi and Andrew Lea. Working together with leading community pub company, Admiral Taverns, the licensees have been able to breathe a new lease of life into the Royal Oak.
As well as using a joint investment to refresh the pub’s interior and exterior aesthetic, the licensees have worked hard to keep The Royal Oak’s community roots. Alongside cosy interiors like a wood burning stove and low-beamed ceilings, Helen and Andrew have championed the local history throughout the pub, framing and hanging old newspaper clippings and original building plans to bring its history to life.
The licensees are keen to encourage a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere, and believe the cosy interior and spacious beer garden will provide the perfect social hub for village activity.
Helen and Andrew are old friends, and now business partners, who have been residents of the surrounding area for much of their lives. Having worked in hospitality for over 20 years — at times even together — they are both extremely experienced operators who have a passion for people and the community. Whilst their career paths have previously taken them to other sectors, the licensees have a strong affinity for the pub industry and enjoy the challenge of taking on and growing successful, sustainable businesses.
Licensee, Helen Pertoldi, commented: “Since reopening we have been overwhelmed by the incredible support we’ve received from our customers. Pubs are nothing without their locals and our priority is to give something back. We feel The Royal Oak has the potential to become a pillar within the community and it is our mission to make it so.”
The Royal Oak is a traditional, dog-friendly, drinking pub with a wide selection of lagers, gins (including a vegan and 0.0% option) and wines, as well as Guinness and cask ales for the locals to sample. To celebrate the reopening, the licensees are currently offering wine and prosecco at a discounted price. They are also hoping to expand their offer in the near future by introducing a food menu for families and friends to enjoy.
The licensees also hope to permanently introduce themed nights such as ‘Fizzy Fridays’ where a bottle of prosecco can be purchased for just £15 between 4pm-8pm. Helen and Andrew will also be organising weekly quiz nights and live music once a month on Saturdays. For the coffee lovers, The Royal Oak will also be running a ‘work from pub’ initiative where customers can come in and pay £10 to receive unlimited coffee for four hours.
Licensee, Andrew Lea added: “The Royal Oak offers a fantastic space for the residents of Warboys and the surrounding areas. The feedback from customers has been fantastic so far and we’re extremely proud of what we have created. It’s such a great feeling to give the locals their pub back.”
Jean-Paul Russek, Business Development Manager for Admiral Taverns, said: “The Royal Oak is the definition of a traditional village pub and it deserves hardworking, community-minded licensees like Helen and Andrew. Their passion for both the pub and local area is phenomenal and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.”
The Royal Oak: https://www.facebook.com/WarboysRoyalOak/
-ENDS
Notes to Editors
Admiral Taverns (“Admiral”), the UK’s number one community pub group. Headquartered in Chester; the Group operates a national estate of c.1,600 predominantly wet-led community pub. Admiral’s unique operational approach has earnt industry recognition with the Group awarded Best Leased and Tenanted Pub Company in 2019, 2016 and 2013 and ranked highly commended as Best Community Pub Operator in 2017. The Group has also been consistently highly rated by licensees in the industry’s independent annual Tenant Track survey, exceeding the scores of all its national peers.
Press release from Admiral Taverns
Contact: admiral@houston.co.uk