Otley Brewing Company opens fourth pub and first outside Pontypridd

Otley Brewing Company has opened its first pub outside the Welsh town of Pontypridd after taking on the King's Arms in the village of Pentyrch.

The move takes Otley's pub estate to four sites, having opened its brewery in Pontypridd in 2005, followed by three pubs in the area.

The SA Brain-owned King's Arms will see a change in menu and décor and will offer a wider selection of real ales.

Otley hopes to recreate the success of its flagship pub the Bunch of Grapes in Pontypridd.

Nick Otley, the managing director of the Bunch of Grapes, and now The King's Arms, said: "This is a big step for us as a business. Our brewery and pubs are all based in Pontypridd and this is our first venture outside of the area. The King's Arms is a terrific pub with a good reputation and bags of character and we want to build on that. It fits in perfectly with our ethos of what makes a great local restaurant and real ale pub. We want to bring a flavour of the Bunch of Grapes to the King's Arms while still retaining the charm and homeliness that has made the pub so popular with locals and visitors for years."

The King's Arms is a Grade II listed building that dates back to the 16th century and features the original flagstone floors, oak beams and a roaring open log fire. It also has a large beer garden.

Otley said: "We will permanently run our popular 01 golden ale at the King's Arms bar as well as a second ale on rotation to give people the chance to sample other flavours. These ales will complement the excellent range of beers that Brains supplies.

"Ken Bell - one of our fantastic chefs from The Bunch of Grapes - is our new head chef at The King's Arms and he will be showcasing the best seasonal, local produce and some fantastic homemade specials. We also have one of our best managers taking over the day-to-day running of the pub - Joanne Davies. We are really looking forward to meeting everyone in the village and hope they will call in soon to say hello to Ken, Joanne and the rest of the team and enjoy a pint."

Richard Davies, sales and marketing director at Brains, added: "Nick has built a very strong business in Pontypridd and the Bunch of Grapes is a truly excellent offer. We are delighted that Nick has taken on the King's Arms as a tenant and we look forward to working with him to maximise the potential of the pub."

The new menu will launch at the King's Arms on 10 February and the official opening will be in April.

Seasonal O-Rosie bitter from Otley Brewing Company >>

Thai-Bo and Hedgro flavoured ales from Otley Brewing Company >>

By Neil Gerrard

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