News

November 30th - Red Lion Water End Re-Opens

27.Nov.2009

Award Winning Oakman Inns & Restaurants Open The Red Lion in Water End, Hertfordshire

...award winning pub & restaurant group defy national pub statistics by going from strength to strength.

Oakman Inns & Restaurants announced today that The Red Lion in Water End, Hertfordshire will be re-opening following extensive refurbishment on Monday 30^th November 2009.

Peter Borg-Neal, Managing Director of Oakman Inns & Restaurants Ltd., announced today that 'the design for the new Red Lion combines comfort, atmosphere and style in a building that dates back to the early 1700's. The original listed building has been renovated sympathetically to create a warm and intimate bar area, with the more modern part of the building lending itself to Oakman Inns & Restaurants signature open kitchen with an airy and contemporary dining area.'

'We have teamed up with the same designers that we used for the Akeman in Tring, which received the Design of the Year award at the 2009 Publican Awards. As with The Akeman, they have married together the history of the building with our contemporary design style.' He added.

Raffaele Mercurio, Operations Director for Oakman Inns & Restaurants Group, commented, 'One of the highlights of the new Red Lion is the Wood Burning Pizza Oven, imported from Frascati in Italy. This oven, used with the best Italian ingredients will give the same pizzas as we had at Forno Vivo, pizzas we won awards for.'

As well as the Forno Vivo Pizza Menu, the new Red Lion menu will feature the modern Mediterranean and Josper grilled food that Oakman Inns is known for, as well as an ever changing specials board featuring great British pub classics. The pub will open daily at 9am for breakfast and pastries, with both the full and bar menu available from midday until the restaurant closes. The bar is open all day serving coffee, tea and soft drinks, an extensive wine and cocktail selection, lagers and real ales.

Ceartan Duggan, General Manager for the Red Lion, added that 'new Red Lion is a destination for the entire community any time of the day or evening. We have a childrens' reading library, colouring sheets and menu, family out-door games, meeting spaces for local businesses and facilities for personal celebrations and events. In the warmer months we have a stunning outside eating area with plenty of garden space.'

The refurbishment has taken exactly two months, encompassing both the inside and outside areas.

For more details contact:

Nicky Mendoza-Wilson
Marketing Manager
Oakman Inns & Restaurants Ltd
9 Akeman Street, Tring, Hertfordshire, HP23 5AA
Tel: 01442 890844
Mobile: 07500 662960
Email:nicky@oakmaninns.co.uk

About Oakman Inns & Restaurants Ltd

The Red Lion is one of three modern pubs and restaurants operated by Oakman Inns & Restaurants Ltd. The Akeman was the first to open in Tring and has been running since December 2007, The Old Post Office, Wallingford opened in February 2009 and The Red Lion in Water End will re-open on the 30^th November 2009.

The concept behind Oakman Inns and Restaurants is to provide local, good quality, food-orientated pubs and restaurants, offering a range of Mediterranean inspired dishes.  The feel of the venues is a modern and traditional mix, whilst keeping a strong sense of identity and integration within the local community.

Tring-based entrepreneur and Managing Director, Peter Borg-Neal, has spent his career developing pubs and restaurants, he was previously founder and Managing Director of Forno Vivo Limited. He also had a very successful corporate career reaching Operating Company Board level with Allied Domecq and Whitbread. He is a director of The National Autistic Society.