Village pub with a rich history set to reopen after two years

The Stag & Hounds, at Burrough-on-the-Hill, has been closed for more than two years after previous owner, chef Dom Clarke and his wife Antonia, put it on the market.

New landlord is Kumar Raxit, who is also currently mine host at The Berkeley Arms at Wymondham, and he plans to serve the first pints on Thursday October 1.

Kumar took a break from getting the interior ready for the reopening to tell the Melton Times: “At a time when so many pubs are closing, we’re putting our heart and hard work into bringing this village pub back to life.

“Our aim is to create a welcoming place for locals, families and visitors, with honest home-cooked food and a real sense of community.”

The building dates from the 16th century when it was a traditional coaching inn and over the centuries it has had strong connections with hunting, the farming community and the royal family.

King Edward VIII was a former patron in the 1930s when he was a prince and legend has it that he was once barred by the landlord for not having enough cash on him to settle his tab – he later gained notoriety for abdicating the throne over his relationship with American socialite, Wallis Simpson – the couple first met at nearby Burrough Court.

Paratroopers billeted locally during the Second World War, and who are commemorated at the nearby Friends of the Tenth memorial, also regularly frequented the place.

The pub was bought in 1984 by Barrie Parish, who set up a successful brewery in the outbuildings – its beers will be among those served under the new management.

It was renamed Grant's Free House at one stage before Dom Clarke restored the historic name when he took over in 2019 – the quality of food earned the pub a prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand under his tenure.

The building has been vacant since early 2024 and Kumar explained: “It’s taking a lot of work to get the pub ready for the reopening.

"Our first major job was getting the kitchen back up to standard and we are also putting in a new cellar.

"We’re spending around £100,000 to start with to get the pub open because we don’t want to delay but we will invest more as we go along.”

Complementary food and drink will be served on the first day before the first paying customers are welcomed through the doors on October 2.

Staff have been hired from local villages and from Melton ahead of the opening.

Kumar, who previously worked in pubs in London and Cambridgeshire, added: “I’m very passionate about village pubs and we have already done a good job with The Berkeley Arms.

"This is the only pub in the village and people are excited about it reopening.

"We will also get lots of tourists from people visiting Burrough hill, cyclists and people who are out walking the dog.

"It was very successful under the previous owner and it can be again.

"This is a beautiful building with lots of character and it has huge potential.”