The Old Crown, Great Bookham is Now Open - Opening Marks Heartwood Inns’ 34th Opening

Heartwood Inns is delighted to announce the opening of its 34th pub, The Old Crown in Great Bookham, which officially opened its doors to the public on Thursday October 9th 2025.

The launch was celebrated with a lively ceremony attended by members of the local community, including Bookham West Councillor Roger Adams. The official ribbon cutting was carried out by Simon Edge, Chairman of the Bookham Residents Association. Guests enjoyed live music, a first look of the refurbished pub, and a welcome speech from Heartwood Collection CEO, Richard Ferrier.

The Old Crown, a much-loved local landmark, has undergone a multi-million-pound refurbishment to restore its heritage character while infusing it with the distinctive Heartwood touch. The sympathetic renovation has created a warm and inviting space with seating for 260 guests indoors and a further 100 covers outside.

General Manager Lukas Ackermann and Head Chef Sorin Mihalache will lead the team at The Old Crown. Guests can expect a seasonally changing, sustainably sourced menu, showcasing Heartwood’s commitment to provenance and quality. Complementing the food will be a drinks list featuring local cask ales and a wide selection of wines and cocktails.

Head Chef Sorin, who recently gave a demonstration at the Bookham Food Festival on September 6, offered a sneak peek of the dishes now available at the pub.

“We are thrilled to be opening our 34th pub in the wonderful community of Great Bookham,” said Richard Ferrier, CEO of Heartwood Collection. “The Old Crown is a truly special pub, and we’ve taken great care to create a warm and welcoming space for everyone to enjoy. We look forward to becoming a cornerstone of the local community.”

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Notes to editors

Heartwood Collection is the Group that operates 34 Heartwood Inns pubs and 14 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 

Upcoming openings

The Woodman - Southgate, London. Opening 2026

The Potter’s Heron - Chandlers Ford, Hampshire. Opening Spring 2026

Brasserie Blanc Restaurants

London – Chancery Lane

London – Fulham Reach

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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