Arkell’s Brewery has joined forces with the new leaseholders of the former Talbot Inn to announce its relaunch under a new name, with doors set to open later this month.
The pub will now be known as The Admiral Sir John Talbot, a name chosen by business partners chef Ethan Rodgers, businessman John Henry, Cirencester-based IT entrepreneur James Burgess, and communications consultant Jonathon Rooke.
The name pays tribute to the Talbot family, who once lived in and owned land nearby. “Sir Charles Talbot even lived in Watermoor House for a time, and there is a scene from a stained-glass window at All Saints, Down Ampney, commemorating the deliverance of Admiral Sir Charles Talbot and his crew from a shipwreck off Sebastopol during the Crimean War in 1854.
“Admiral Sir John was known to also love the area, and was generally considered the more distinguished Admiral,” James Burgess said.
Two generations of the Talbot family made their mark in the Royal Navy. Admiral Sir John Talbot (1769–1851) gained renown during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, notably commanding HMS Victorious in the capture of the French ship Rivoli in 1812. His nephew, Admiral Sir Charles Talbot (1801–1876), continued the tradition, rising to senior roles including Commander-in-Chief at Queenstown and The Nore.
Reflecting on the process behind the name, Jonathon Rooke said: “It has been great fun researching these two gentlemen of the past, and choosing one to represent our pub. Both men descended from the prominent Talbot family of Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire, and their careers exemplified a remarkable tradition of naval service spanning much of the nineteenth century. Together, Sir John and Sir Charles represent two generations of the same family whose contributions helped shape the Royal Navy during a period of global British maritime power.
“We would like to thank the Royal Museums Greenwich, and Arkells Brewery, for helping us source information.
“It is an exciting time — chef is in there cooking away, and deliveries have started to arrive. As soon as we can announce an official opening date, we will, and will be hosting a series of warm-up events for the community and guests to, hopefully, enjoy,” Jono added.
For more information, email info@theadmiraltalbotinn.com. For Arkell’s Brewery, call 01793 823026 or email arkells@arkells.com.
