A FINCHAMPSTEAD brewery has launched its own pub in Swallowfield.
Siren Craft Brew has taken over The George and Dragon, on Church Road.
The brewery is working with the pre-existing team of staff, who are continuing to manage the bar, tables and kitchen.
Darron Anley, owner of Siren Craft Brew, said it has always been part of his dream to open retail outlets.
He said small breweries similar to Siren traditionally opt for city centre locations, but he felt country pubs were an untapped market.
“It’s very different to the tap yard,” he said. “We felt we would be missing an opportunity to get Siren in front of our customers.”
Mr Anley said taking over the country pub was “really exciting” as it posed new challenges.
He said the team have lots of ideas on its future, but are taking things one step at a time.
“We don’t want to throw everything out and start again, but develop our identity as we go along,” he explained. “The staff have given us lots of ideas.”
The kitchen team have been experimenting with some new additions, such as adding Siren to the beer batter mix for fish and chips.
Mr Anley said he wants to stick to traditional pub food at The George and Dragon, but is looking to up the flavour.
“We want to make sure its the best we can put out,” he said.
The pub has a curated selection of Siren drinks behind the bar, which Mr Anley hopes will become popular among the punters.
He hopes to slowly refurbish the pub in time, and has ambitions to extend the venue and its car park.
“We are slowly making a few changes,” he said. “Nothing too drastic, we’re being sympathetic to it.”
The 17th century pub is a Grade 2 listed building, and used to be a coach house.
The George and Dragon is open from noon until 11pm Tuesday to Saturday, and noon until 5pm on Sunday. It is closed on Mondays.
n For more information about the pub, visit: www.georgedragonpub.com
