The trio behind the Wiltshire based Chickpea Group are excited to have acquired the King’s Arms in Shaftesbury, in what will be their first pub in the county of Dorset. Shaftesbury, which is situated on a hilltop overlooking Hardy’s Blackmoor Vale, is a small but thriving market town in North Dorset.
The King’s Arms sits in the centre of town just a short stroll from the iconic Gold Hill, made famous by Ridley Scott’s Hovis advert in the seventies, as well as a wealth of independent shops and cafes. The pub itself dates back to the 17th century and is packed with charm, period features and a large open fireplace, with plenty of cosy corners. The Chickpea team have been busy working on a full refit of the space, redecorating by adding a rich colour palette of deep greens and reds, handmade blinds, tables, chairs and soft furnishings.
On re-opening, The King’s Arms will operate 7 days a week from 11am to 11pm serving a simple menu of Chickpea Group ‘pub bangers’ across their 100-cover dining space. Think, smash burgers, scotch eggs, handmade pies and their much-loved Nole pizzas. On Sundays the team will dish up their hearty roast dinners with bottomless roasties and jugs of gravy. On tap drinkers will find a selection of local ales and beers, plus an extensive list of wines and crowd-pleasing cocktails. Dog friendly inside and out, the pub also benefits from a large courtyard area which will be filled with tables and planters for the warmer months.
To one side of the pub is a long, adjoining room which was previously used as a games area with pool table. This space will be redesigned, with a separate entrance and used as a revolving pop up concept, and a chance for the team to bring in seasonal special guests, retail offerings and much more. Watch this space!
Ethan Davids, Co-Founder of Chickpea Group stated: “The Kings Arms has all the characteristics of a great pub: a roaring fire, long bar, and plenty of space. We think our model will work nicely there and we’re looking forward to swinging the doors back open after a particularly long period of closure. See you at the bar!”
The Kings Arms will open in late November. Follow on Facebook, and Instagram for more details.
