Stonegate pub to reopen after £500k investment
![Oak Tree: The Stonegate pub will reopen after a £500,000 investment.](https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/var/wrbm_gb_hospitality/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_large/publications/hospitality/morningadvertiser.co.uk/article/2021/12/03/has-the-oak-tree-in-norwich-reopened/4585173-1-eng-GB/Has-the-Oak-Tree-in-Norwich-reopened.jpg)
The pub has been refurbished with a modern-rustic feel: secluded nooks and a conservatory are balanced out by the bar area, with wall features, eclectic furniture and fairy lights adding a personal touch and festive spark.
The Oak Tree general managers Miranda and Andrew said: “We are so excited about the future of the Oak Tree. The team love the pub’s new look and can’t wait to show people around every time a new visitor walks in the door. The new menu is delicious and truly has something for everybody.
“It is a new chapter and we cannot wait to see the Oak Tree go from strength to strength. We are delighted to welcome guests, events and the local community again.”
A glow up
The pub will serve food from 10am to 9pm daily, with the menu including afternoon tea and Sunday roasts with bottomless Yorkshire puddings.
Sky and BT Sports are available across five television screens in the bar area, and ales and a gin of the month are included on the drinks menu.
The Oak Tree’s garden area now contains traditional picnic benches, heated areas and umbrella-shaded tables, and there is a wood burning stove in the pub’s interior.
Put into context
In September, the Oak Tree lodged a bid with the city council to carry out improvements to its outdoor seating offering, with Stonegate warning the pub could close if the garden revamp was cancelled.
Following the acquisition of Ei Group in March 2020 for £1.27bn, Stonegate Group is the largest pub company in the UK: its portfolio includes 1,270 sites within the managed division and 3,200 leased and tenanted businesses.
The managed pubs division, which employs 13,500 people, is split into branded pubs such as Slug & Lettuce and Walkabout, and traditional (unbranded) pubs such as Proper Pubs and Classic Inns.