The Boot in Histon to reopen this week following £250,000 refurbishment with packed programme of opening events

Heartwood Collection, the award-winning hospitality group backed by Alchemy Partners, has invested £250,000 in The Boot in Histon, giving the much-loved pub a fresh new look while retaining the character and charm that have made it a favourite in the local community.

Following an extensive refurbishment, The Boot will reopen its doors at 4pm this Thursday 27 August, with a packed programme of events and entertainment planned throughout the opening weeks.

Earlier this year, Heartwood embarked on a programme of investment across its existing pubs, reaffirming its commitment to the communities they serve.

“Our investment in our existing pubs reflects our long-term commitment to the communities we serve,” said Richard Ferrier, CEO of Heartwood Collection. “As we continue to grow, it’s equally important that we reinvest in our existing pubs to ensure they look beautiful, feel welcoming and continue delivering the high-quality food and hospitality our guests expect.”

At The Boot, the investment has included refreshed interiors, updated signage, new soft furnishings and enhanced outdoor spaces with brand-new furniture, enhanced landscaping and thoughtful planting schemes creating inviting spaces for guests to enjoy throughout the year.

The result is a refreshed pub that feels fresh yet familiar, breathing new life into the pub while keeping it firmly rooted as a much-loved local for the Histon community.

To mark the reopening, The Boot has lined up a programme of events and entertainment designed to bring the local community together and make the most of its newly refreshed spaces.

The celebrations kick off on Thursday 27 August when the pub opens, with live music from 4pm, and even a jester roaming the pub, bringing some medieval merriment to opening day.

Live music will then continue every Friday and Saturday from 28 August to 19 September, giving guests plenty of opportunities to settle in, enjoy a drink and soak up the atmosphere. On Friday 28 August, guests can step back in time with traditional Morris dancing from 5pm to 6pm. The Boot will also be bringing a little bit of the countryside to Histon on Saturday 29 August and Saturday 5 September, with a special farmyard experience for families and locals.

The reopening weekend will also see the launch of The Boot’s craft fair, bringing together a selection of local makers and creators. Guests can browse the stalls and discover something special to take home.

The Boot is also putting its dog-friendly credentials front and centre with the launch of its new Saturday dog walks, starting on Saturday 29 August. Taking place every Saturday at 10am, the relaxed weekly walks will give local dog lovers the chance to meet fellow owners, enjoy a stroll together and explore the surrounding area.

The team at The Boot is now putting the finishing touches to the pub ahead of reopening.

Aliz Koloh, General Manager of The Boot, said: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone back to The Boot. We’ve created a space that feels fresh and refreshed, while keeping all the character and quirky touches guests love. We’ve got a fantastic programme of events lined up for the reopening, and the whole team can’t wait to see the pub buzzing again and enjoy the new spaces with our guests.”

On reopening, guests can continue to enjoy The Boot’s seasonally changing menus, featuring ethically sourced ingredients and proudly aligned with Heartwood Collection’s three-star Sustainable Restaurant Association rating.

With a refreshed pub, revitalised gardens and a packed calendar of events, The Boot is ready to welcome Histon back for a new chapter from Thursday at 4pm.

Notes to editors

Heartwood Collection is the Group that operates 36 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:

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

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