Kenilworth pub reopens after two years under new owners
By James Smith
13th Dec 2023 | Local News
A Kenilworth pub has reopened under new owners, two years after it last welcomed in customers.
The Cottage Inn on Stoneleigh Road is once again open for business, with a new look, and now under the management of Jack Stock and partner Tash Winstone.
The couple - who first met working in hospitality - have moved back to Tash's hometown of Kenilworth to open their first business together, something Jack has wanted to do for a long time.
"I have been working in central London for the past eight years," he told Nub News.
"I ran a big Arsenal pub, and a more touristy one, and also worked in Victoria Station - so coming to Warwickshire certainly is a nice change of pace.
"Tash is from Kenilworth. We have been talking about opening our own pub for a while; I have always wanted to have my own pub.
"London wasn't right for what I wanted to do; we want to be a community-based pub, we want to offer something different."
Having officially signed for the Wells & Co pub on November 21, Jack and Tash spent around three weeks renovating the interior, before opening last weekend.
As well as giving a makeover to the décor - with more renovations also to come - they have changed the drinks line-up and are hoping to offer "something different" to other venues in the town.
"It [The Cottage] has the appeal that nobody expects anything from it - if we had taken over an existing pub it would have been harder to do what we wanted to do and make changes," Jack explained.
"So it being closed was to our advantage in some ways.
"The visuals didn't suit us, so we have taken it back a bit - and there is more to come."
He added: "We do want to be a little bit different. We have a great range of ales on which change regularly.
"Our craft line up you won't see anywhere else in Kenilworth, or in South Warwickshire. It is important to have a different line up to other pubs."
Among the upcoming changes will be a new food offering, cocktail menu and live music.
They are already introducing a "more involved" weekly pub quiz in time for Christmas, and planning themed nights for next year.
And while the previous owners of The Cottage bizarrely blamed local residents for the pub having to close, Jack says he has already been given lots of encouragement from customers in the first few days since opening.
"Everyone is really supportive, a lot of people are really happy that we are open again," he said..
"We are keen to listen to the community, adapt to what they want and need.
"It is such a shame the pub shut, it is such a shame when any pub shuts.
"And watch this space!
"We will be changing things on a regular basis and finding and adapting to what the local people need."
Follow The Cottage Inn on Facebook here.
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