Soberton Community Pub Reopens Following £108,000 Refurbishment Investment

Traditional village pub, the White Lion on School Hill in Soberton, will officially reopen on Friday 19th June following a combined investment of £108,000 from experienced licensee, Allan Marks and Admiral Taverns, the UK’s leading community pub company.

This refurbishment is part of a continuous improvement programme designed to maintain the high standards and strong offering of The White Lion. The works will help the licensee further strengthen the pub’s reputation as a well-established, high-quality destination, renowned for its home-cooked food, excellent service, and welcoming atmosphere.

Internally, the pub has been revamped to include newly resealed wooden flooring and freshly reupholstered furniture throughout. Externally, the White Lion has been completely refreshed to include a fresh coat of paint and newly planted window boxes to greet visitors. In addition, the pub boasts a newly updated, spacious patio area, complete with brand new seating for customers to enjoy heading into the warmer months.

The White Lion will continue its legacy of award-winning food with the launch of a delicious new seasonal menu, prepared and cooked on-site using the highest quality ingredients and fresh local produce. The updated food offering will feature elevated takes on traditional pub favourites, such as burgers, pies, and fish and chips, while also including fresh seasonal dishes such as tuna steak, lime and coriander chicken, and spring green lasagne. In addition to a new food menu, the pub will host an impressive range of drinks including an extensive portfolio of premium draught lagers, stouts, ciders and a strong rotation of cask conditioned ale sourced from national and local brewers including Bowmans Brewery in Droxford. To ensure there is something for everyone, the pub will also offer an extensive wine list curated by a local wine company.

Passionate licensee Allan Marks brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the pub having run the White Lion as the licensee for the past fifteen years. He is committed to continuing his journey at the pub and creating a welcoming space that is a destination for quality local food.

Allan Marks, licensee at the White Lion, commented: “It has been amazing to see the refurbishment come to life over the past number of weeks. I am excited for people to try our fantastic new food menus and extensive wine selection. I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone at Admiral Taverns who have gone above and beyond to make this renovation a success. I look forward to welcoming old and new customers in Soberton and hope this will be a place people can come for great food and great company for many years to come!”

Following the reopening, Allan will be hosting a schedule of regular events for the community to enjoy including a weekly meat raffle. In addition, as part of his mission to give back to the local community, the pub will be supporting community initiatives and fundraising events such as the annual village fete and fundraising barbeques for the local church.

The pub is owned by Admiral Taverns, the UK’s leading community pub company with c. 1,350 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales.

Anna Clissold, Regional Operations Director South at Admiral Taverns, added: “I have had the pleasure of working with Allan and the team at the White Lion for the last fifteen years and am delighted to see the completion of this refurbishment at the White Lion. The improved external area is ready to give all customers a space to enjoy the home cooked food and amazing service for the summer. Allan continuously looks at how he can improve the business and exceed the expectations of his customers giving them an amazing experience on every visit. I look forward to watching Allan and his team thrive in the future. On behalf of myself and the Admiral Taverns team, we wish Allan and the whole team at the White Lion continued success for many years to come”

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.

Admiral is committed to supporting licensees to run successful pubs with sustainable, long-term futures. The best licensees are passionate about pubs and eager to play a central role in their local communities. With a diverse range of pubs available across the UK, Admiral is always looking for talented people ready to partner with them to take the next step and run their own pub.

Operating as a true partnership, Admiral provides licensees with the freedom and autonomy to shape their pub around the needs of their community, while experienced Business Development Managers offer guidance and support at every stage. For many, it’s an opportunity not just to take on a pub, but to build a long-term business of their own.

For more information:

Media Enquiries: Brand Potential

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Admiral@brandpotential.com

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