Paul Welburn to oversee fine dining restaurant at the Swan Inn

Paul Welburn is to head up a new fine dining restaurant at the Swan Inn in Islip, Oxfordshire, when it reopens this summer.

The property has been taken over by Migg Inns, which is led by Islip resident Nina Gray. It is being relaunched as a pub and high-end restaurant with Welburn as chef-patron.

Welburn was previously head chef of the Michelin-starred Rhodes W1 and was executive chef at Oxford Kitchen when it won a Michelin star in 2018. The venue rebranded as 215 during the pandemic and Welburn stepped down from the restaurant at the end of last year.

Gray said: “We have been looking to take on the Swan Inn for some time and make it a great destination pub and restaurant, but wanted to sign up the right person to lead the project. Meeting Paul when we did was perfect timing.

"We are now working with Paul on the re-fit so that it is in accordance with our combined vision. Obviously, we need to do this within the confines of a historic building. We are looking forward to bringing the Swan Inn back to life!”

Welburn added: “It has long been my ambition to be there at the start of a project, with a blank canvas. I am very much looking forward to offering a first-class experience for diners, as well as a place for local people to meet and spend time together.”

Migg Inns will start the refurbishment works imminently and hopes to open the Swan Inn this summer.