Chesham: Queens Head pub to close for refurbishment

Queens Head pub on Church Street in Chesham announced its refurbishment and change of management.

The revamp kicked off in August as the signs and flower baskets were taken down for re-painting and the car park resurfacing began.

The pub’s incoming new director and tenant Paul Marsh, 55, said he was feeling “excited, anxious and frustrated” as they “can’t wait to get started” with his business partner, the head of operations Manuel Nieddu.

The contractor will carry out a “sympathetic” makeover on the ground floor respecting the heritage of the pub, Paul said.

The signs and hanging baskets were taken down on August 15 for some TLC (Image: Paul Marsh)

After the makeover, customers can enjoy table service with a new food, drinks and cocktail menu.

The Thai restaurant based at Queens Head will also have a new menu.

“It will be same operators but just improvement in terms of service,” Paul said.

The pub is now recruiting for vacancies left by some staff returning to university in September while “any existing staff will be kept,” Paul said.  

“It’s not the easiest time for pubs and as an operator you can’t just open your doors – we are going to have to be the best pub in Chesham. People want something special,” he added.

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The traditional red-brick pub owned by Fullers is bucking the trend with more investment despite a challenging time for hospitality, which has sadly seen the closure of village pubs across the county.

Queens Head will temporarily close on August 22 so the current management can get the pub ready for the handover to new management.

It is set to re-open on September 4. 

A spokesperson for Fullers said: "The Queen’s Head is a delightful pub in Chesham, and we are undertaking a small refurbishment that will complement the pub’s design and standing as a Chesham landmark.

“The work coincides with pub’s transfer from being a Fuller’s managed pub, to a Fuller’s tenanted pub, with a new Tenant – Paul Marsh – who will run the pub as his own business.

“All pubs need some TLC on a regular basis, and we will be carrying out some internal redecoration and refurbishing some of the furniture, but we will not be changing the character of the pub, while allowing our new Tenant to add their own stamp on the look and feel of the interior."