Entertainment Swindon

New owners of former coaching inn, The Kings Head Hotel, in Cirencester – highly experienced hospitality operators, Brakspear – are thrilled to announce the appointment of the Hotel’s new general manager, Matthew Cain, formerly GM at award-winning Cotswolds pub with rooms, The Frogmill in Andoversford and previously of Stonehouse Court, Tewkesbury Park Hotel and the Cricklade Hotel & Country Club.

Matthew brings more than a decade of hospitality experience to the Kings Head having run The Frogmill for almost four years. Matthew takes up his new position from September on completion of the Kings Head’s current renovations. Matthew and Brakspear’s mission for the Kings Head is to create a warm and welcoming place for both the local community and visitors to the area to enjoying great hospitality and superlative dining in charming, informal surroundings and have a chance to meet the new and existing team with a fresh, new outlook.

Brakspear has designated the Kings Head as a flagship property of its Honeycomb Houses estate – which represents 12 of its finest venues out of the 120 pubs it owns. The company is now overseeing the re-branding and a full refurbishment of the Kings Head’s ground floor public areas, including its main bar, lobby, and restaurant, as well as converting the former the MBB Brasserie to create over 200 covers. There will be two entrances to The Kings Head, via the main front door on Cirencester’s High Street and via the brasserie entrance located in the Corn Hall Arcade.

Completion of the current renovations is set for the end of September 2025. A pop-up bar and restaurant are now open and serving a full lunch and dinner menu, stone-baked pizzas and cocktails in the hotel’s first floor Assembly Room and on its adjoining outdoor terrace. Both spaces have just been given their own stylish refresh, with the outside terrace also hosting regular live music nights. Both spaces are also available for private hire.

Overseeing the renovations is Brakspear’s in-house design team, who, inspired by the Cotswolds traditions of artisan craftsmanship, are using wallpapers and fabrics by iconic Cotswolds designer, William Morris, to create stylish interiors with contemporary flair whilst remaining sensitive to the historic origins of the building and its many original features. These include a beautiful, vaulted wine cellar of Roman origin and available for events.

Throughout the refurbishment, all 64 of the Kings Head’s gorgeous and individually styled bedrooms remain open for bookings on a B&B basis.

Since 2012, Honeycomb Houses has acquired several heritage properties in the Cotswolds region, all hand-picked for their idyllic town and village locations and surrounded by quintessential English countryside.

Tom Davies, Brakspear CEO, commented, “The Kings Head is an incredible venue with so much to offer both locals and visitors to the area and we’re delighted to be welcoming Matthew as its new general manager to oversee the hotel staff and welcome guests within freshly renovated and much improved interiors.”

“We’ll continue to ensure the Kings Head remains a completely unique and historic place to stay, drink and dine in style following this initial investment in its refurbishment, staff training and new menus using locally sourced produce wherever possible to create a truly irresistible offering.”

Honeycomb Houses is the managed division of parent company, Brakspear, which has 110 pubs nationwide.  The 12 Honeycomb Houses represent some of Brakspear’s finest venues, with nine of the 12 properties feature a stunning selection of double and twin rooms. All Honeycomb Houses are dog-friendly both inside and out and some welcome dogs for overnight stays too. https://www.honeycombhouses.co.uk