New Marylebone pub aims to support women in hospitality

The team behind the Light bar in London’s Shoreditch has opened a pub called the Flowerhouse in Marylebone, which aims to support women in the hospitality industry.

The new concept has been launched on the former Bok bar site by Jo Jackson (pictured), previously chief creative officer at Made.com, and the group behind the Light Bar, which is owned by Morten Jensen and Darren Collins.

The Flowerhouse is a female-led public house, aiming to support women from all backgrounds and ages get their first, or returning, step on the hospitality ladder.

Apprenticeships and training schemes will be offered for roles ranging from chefs and cocktail bartenders to floor staff and managers, with flexible working hours encouraged for mothers returning to work.

The wine list includes Tripelpunkt Riesling, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Massale Pinot Noir and Barbaresco Basarin, with craft beers including Forest Road and Camden Town on tap alongside the signature Flowerhouse pale ale and a cocktail list.

In January, the team will launch an all-day food offering, described as a “flexitarian twist on a classic pub menu”. Further spaces will also be opened upstairs, including a dining room.

Co-founder Jackson said: “We’re super passionate to revive this classic pub that not only is a space where a woman should feel entirely comfortable having a drink there on their own, but somewhere that can hopefully help make a difference in an industry still predominately run by men.

"The idea for a female-led team breathing fresh air into old British pubs came from working with amazingly talented women in hospitality and using our privileged location in London to provide a platform to inspire and support others.”