Former Bel and Dragon manager and George owner opens new pub
Former Bel and Dragon manager and George at Wraysbury owner Ben Smith has refurbished a local pub and brought in a Heston-Blumenthal-trained head chef to revive the menu.
The formerly-closed Spring Inn was bought by Ben's Pub Company in May 2014 and has now reopened with a new bar, furniture and seating arrangement, kitchen and outdoor dining area.
It is also available for event hire, with the space to have a marquee outside, alongside private hire of the upstairs bar and a 14-cover private dining room.
Smith has also taken on the same Heston-trained head chef as he did for his other refurbished pub, the Grade-II listed, 14th century George at Wraysbury. He now plans to bring the George's Sunday lunch tradition to the Spring Inn, and the menu will also feature classic pub dishes such as pie, fish, roast chicken, and simple salads.
There will also be a selection of lunchtime sandwiches, plus morning coffee and afternoon tea, a wide selection of wines, spirits, liqueurs and whiskies; free Wi-Fi, and an express lunch for business customers.
Smith is well known in the area for taking old pubs and reviving them: as group manager and partner of the Bel and Dragon restaurant chain he oversaw the development and success of its busy Cookham, Windsor, Reading and Godalming sites.
He also took over the George in 2013, and successfully reopened it after spending over £350,000 in refurbishments.
He said: "The Spring Inn was in desperate need of love and attention, and I hope that with the new menu and refurbishment it will now achieve its full potential. The George at Wraysbury has achieved incredible success in just 12 months and my vision is that The Spring Inn will replicate that."
Former Bel and the Dragon manager to open restaurant in 14th century pub >>