Heartwood Inns reopens The Black Horse in Thame following refurbishment

The Black Horse in Thame has officially reopened its doors following a transformative refurbishment, as part of Heartwood Collection’s recently announced £1.5 million investment across five of its much-loved pubs.

Having closed on 11th May 2026, The Black Horse welcomed guests back on 4th June, unveiling refreshed interiors and a revitalised outdoor garden designed to enhance the pub’s role as a cherished local destination, led by General Manager Zach Leach.

Guests can now enjoy a beautifully updated setting featuring refreshed décor, new soft furnishings and refreshed signage. The reimagined garden has also been enhanced with stylish new furniture and thoughtful planting. While the pub retains its distinctive character and heritage features, the enhancements reflect Heartwood Inns’ signature style, warm, welcoming and full of personality.

To celebrate the reopening, guests were treated to a day of festivities including horse and carriage rides in a nod to the pub’s namesake, alongside live music from a jazz duo, creating a memorable welcome back for the local community.

The reopening also coincides with Heartwood’s new “Reasons to Visit” campaign, launched at the start of the year, which introduced an expanded programme of events and experiences throughout the week. From steak nights and quiz evenings to seasonal celebrations and games nights, The Black Horse is now set to offer even more reasons for the community to come together.

Guests can once again enjoy Heartwood’s seasonally changing menus, currently featuring Heartwood’s fresh Spring menu, created using ethically sourced ingredients and aligned with the group’s three-star Sustainable Restaurant Association rating.

Zach Leach, General Manager of The Black Horse, said: “We’re delighted to have welcomed guests back through our doors and to share the results of this fantastic refurbishment with the community. The reopening day was a wonderful celebration, with horse and carriage rides, live jazz and so many familiar faces joining us throughout the day. We’re so excited to be stepping into a new era of The Black Horse.”

The Black Horse now stands ready to continue its role as a vibrant hub for Thame, bringing people together over great food, drink and memorable experiences in a beautifully renewed setting.

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, Buckinghamshire | The 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 | The Potter’s Heron – Ampfield, Hampshire

Upcoming openings: The Meadow Lark – Trumpington, Cambridgeshire (Opening 2026) | The Muddy Fox – Solihull, West Midlands (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

For more information:

press@heartwoodcollection.com

Third-party news items are published as received for informational purposes. Publication does not imply endorsement by the Guild. Please use the contact details within the post for any enquiries.