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An historic Shepherd Neame pub with rooms in a Kent village has reopened as a boutique hotel, alongside a new menu, “fresh” new feel and new licensee.
The Kings Head in Wye, near Ashford, a former coaching inn dating back to the late 1700s, reopened last week. Its transformation was led by licensee Nick Maclennan.
Maclennan, who has “extensive” business experience, said he “jumped at the chance” to take on the Shepherd Neame-owned pub.
The building has been redecorated throughout with a new, “chic” black and white colour scheme. Upstairs are seven bedrooms, all en-suite.
The kitchen team now in place at the Kings Head includes MasterChef The Professionals 2021 quarter finalist, head chef Sam McClurkin.
Maclennan plans to extend opening hours, opening seven days a week, including for breakfast, offering a new menu of dishes including avocado and poached eggs on freshly baked sourdough bread, baked on the premises.
He said: “I was delighted to have the opportunity to run The Kings Head. I have always thought that it is a fantastic site with such potential, but it is not only about having the vision but being able to deliver that vision.
“It is now a boutique hotel, with really good, locally-sourced gastropub food. The village wants it to succeed, I feel the community is behind me. I know how to run a business and have had a lot of support from friends in the industry so I am confident that I will be able to make my plans for The Kings Head a success.”
He added: “Opening seven days a week is essential for a hotel, and as we need to be able to offer breakfast for our guests, it makes sense to make those available to all our customers. There is certainly an appetite for it in Wye.”
