Heartwood Collection Acquires The Lord Bute in Dorset, Expanding ‘Pub with Rooms’ Portfolio

Heartwood Collection, the award-winning hospitality group and operator of Heartwood Inns, has acquired The Lord Bute, a well-known hotel and restaurant in picturesque Highcliffe, Dorset.

The property sits adjacent to Heartwood Inns’ existing pub, The Oaks, and will undergo a significant refurbishment before reopening as an extension of the pub. For the first time, The Oaks will offer overnight accommodation, with 19 boutique-style bedrooms created as part of the redevelopment. In parallel, Heartwood Inns also plans to refurbish the existing pub to a premium standard.

The acquisition represents another significant milestone in Heartwood Collection’s continued expansion of its premium ‘pub with rooms’ portfolio. It strengthens the group’s presence across the South of England and marks its third site in Dorset, building on the success of The Oaks and reinforcing its reputation for creating characterful destinations rooted in their local communities.

Heartwood Collection, under the ownership of Alchemy Partners, is well on track to reach 500 bedrooms by June 2027. The business holds the highest possible three-star rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association and was recently named ‘Best Brand/Concept’ at the 2025 Publican Awards.

Richard Ferrier, CEO of Heartwood Collection, commented:

“When the opportunity arose to acquire a hotel and restaurant adjacent to our existing pub, we couldn’t believe our luck. We are delighted to welcome The Lord Bute to Heartwood Inns and intend to invest significantly in both properties. They will operate under The Oaks name, with an Autumn opening looking realistic.”

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Notes to editors

Heartwood Collection is the Group that operates 35 Heartwood Inns pubs and 13 Brasserie Blanc restaurants across the UK. Heartwood Collection’s current site portfolio is as follows:

Inns

The Barley Mow – Englefield Green, Surrey

The Black Horse – Thame, Oxfordshire

The Black Horse – Reigate, Surrey

The Black Swan - Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire

The Boot – Histon, Cambridgeshire

The Britannia – Parkstone, Dorset

The British Queen – Locksbottom, Kent

The Cricketers – Cobham, Surrey

The Coat & Bear - Newbury, Berkshire

The George & Dragon - Marlow, BuckinghamshireThe Hare – Old Redding, Harrow Weald, Middlesex

The Highwayman – Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire

The Jobber’s Rest – Upminster, Essex

The Jolly Farmer – Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire

The King’s Arms – Prestbury, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

The King’s Head – Teddington, Middlesex

The March Hare – Guildford, Surrey

The Oaks – Highcliffe, Christchurch, Dorset

The Old Crown – Great Bookham, Surrey

The Plough & Harrow - Long Ditton, Surrey

The Prince of Wales - East Barnet, London 

The Queen’s Head – Weybridge, Surrey

The Quill & Scholar - Lichfield, Staffordshire 

The Ragged Robin - Godalming, Surrey

The Red Deer – Horsham, West Sussex

The Red Lion - Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire 

The Rising Sun - Reading, Berkshire

The Ropemaker - Emsworth, Hampshire

The Royal Forest - Epping Forest, Greater London

The Sun Inn – Chobham, Surrey

The White Bear – Ruislip, Middlesex

The White Hart - Lewes, East Sussex

The White Hart - Lymington, Hampshire

The White Horse - Dorking, Surrey 

The Woodman - Southgate, London

Upcoming openings

The Potter’s Heron - Ampfield, Hampshire. Opening March 2026

The Meadow Lark - Trumpington, Cambridgeshire. Opening 2026.

Brasserie Blanc Restaurants

London – Chancery Lane

London – Southbank

London – Threadneedle Street

Beaconsfield

Bournemouth

Cheltenham

Chichester

Hale Barns

Leeds

Milton Keynes

Oxford

Portsmouth

Winchester

Press Contact

For any media enquiries please contact press@heartwoodcollection.com.

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