Daventry Community Pub Relaunched Following Transformational Refurbishment

Popular community pub, the Pike & Eel on 1 Tamar Square in Daventry, relaunched on Thursday 23rd April following a transformational combined investment of £110,000 from experienced licensees Mark Ford and Lynn Dorney, and Admiral Taverns, the UK's leading community pub company.

This refurbishment has breathed a new lease of life into the Pike & Eel to elevate and modernise the overall look and feel of the pub.

Internally, the pub has undergone a complete transformation to include a brand new bar and new flooring, as well as a dart board and two pool tables in the games room area to elevate the pub’s atmosphere.

Externally, the Pike & Eel has been revamped to include brand new signage and lighting as well as a brand new patio area which can seat between 25–30 people outside.

Passionate licensees Mark Ford and Lynn Dorney bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the pub having spent the past three decades working in the industry. Both local to the area, they took over the pub in March 2025 and have taken it from strength to strength. Going forward, they are committed to creating a family and dog friendly community pub that brings people together and supports all aspects of community life.

Lynn Dorney, licensee at the Pike & Eel, commented: “It has been incredible to see the pub transform and to witness the community come together to celebrate. This is a true local, and our regulars are like family, so we are thrilled to be offering them a new and improved pub. We want to extend our thanks to our hardworking team at the pub and everyone at Admiral Taverns who have gone above and beyond to make this renovation a success. We look forward to seeing this pub thrive.”

Going forward, the pub hosts a busy schedule of regular entertainment for the community to enjoy including weekly pool and dart evenings. Pool nights begin at 8pm on Monday evenings with darts taking place at 8pm on Wednesday evenings. There will also be monthly karaoke and live music on Friday evenings. In addition, as part of its mission to give back to the local community, it will continue to host regular fundraising events and community initiatives to raise money for Friends of Danetre Hospital, who support in-patient wards and hospital departments with equipment and training.

Following the refurbishment, the pub will continue to host an impressive range of premium drinks, including Guinness, Cruzcampo, Carling and more. The pub is also offering a drinks deal where you can get four shots of alcohol for £10 every day of the week.

The Pike & Eel also offers a delicious food menu with a full English breakfast offered from Thursday–Sunday and a Sunday roast offered each week.

Matt Obrey, Business Development Manager at Admiral Taverns, added: “I’m delighted to see the refurbishment of the Pike & Eel completed. I look forward to seeing Lynn, Mark and the team continue to thrive in the future. On behalf of myself and the Admiral Taverns team, we wish Mark, Lynn and the team all the best for many years to come.”

The pub is owned by Admiral Taverns, the UK’s leading community pub company with c. 1,365 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales.

Notes to Editors

Admiral Taverns (“Admiral”) is the UK’s number one community pub group. Headquartered in Chester, the Group operates a national estate of c. 1,350 predominantly wet-led community pubs. Admiral’s unique operational approach has earnt industry recognition with the Group winning Best Community Pub Operator at the 2024 Publican Awards, whilst also being shortlisted for Best Partnership Pub Company (501+ Sites). In 2019, 2016 and 2013, Admiral Taverns won Best Leased and Tenanted Pub Company at the Publican Awards 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.

For more information:

Brand Potential: Polly Clarke / Amy Keane / Sarah Patton

Email: admiral@brandpotential.co.uk | Tel: +44 (0) 204 529 0549

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