Josh Eggleton, Chef Patron of the Pony & Trap, holder of one Michelin star in the Michelin Guide UK, will take over The Kensington Arms with former Butcombe Brewery Managing Director, Guy Newell.

Josh Eggleton who is the chef patron and co-owner of the one Michelin starred, The Pony & Trap in Chew Magna, Somerset and Guy Newell will work together to transform The Kensington Arms which has been affectionately referred to as ‘The Kenny’ by the locals.

Josh Eggleton said: “The Kensington Arms already has a great reputation for food and we’ll be adding to that by taking it back to its roots and emphasising its traditional British pub cuisines, sourced well, with daily changing specials. The current team is staying with the addition of new general manager Ali Yuill from Salt and Malt and the Pig near Bath, and Head Chef Luke Hawkins who we trained at the Source Cafe and The Pony & Trap.  We are closing for a few days in October to have a bit of a spruce up and then it’ll be business as usual.”

The pub will undergo a short refurbishment to give a more relaxed, informal feel as a popular neighbourhood pub. One of the two function rooms upstairs will be fitted with audio visual equipment so it can be used more effectively for business meetings and a new bar installed to make it a more suitable function space.

Guy commented: “I love the Great British Pub – at Butcombe we owned 20, including the fantastic Cottage Inn on Baltic Wharf Bristol, and the famous Pig & Fiddle in central Bath. My wife Becky and I fell in love with The Kenny the first time we visited, and were naturally keen to join Josh in this exciting new venture. Our intention is to make sure the beer, wine, spirits, tea and coffee offering is every bit as good as the food and I can guarantee a great pint of Butcombe Bitter!”

Josh took over the reins at The Pony & Trap in 2006 with his sister Holly, making them some of the youngest restaurant proprietors in the country. Over the last 10 years The Pony & Trap has claimed numerous awards such as the second best gastropub in the country and holding a Michelin star since 2011.

Guy Newell bought Butcombe Brewery in 2003 and served as Managing Director before selling it to the Liberation Group in 2015, and retiring from the board to pursue other ventures.

>>> Read more about Josh Eggleton here