Entrepreneur invests £1m in pub renovation

Billy Hutchinson, managing director of Lesters Packaging, is investing over £1m to renovate The New Inns, a derelict Brewood pub, into The Lesters Arms, a gourmet restaurant and bar.

The project will create more than 20 new jobs, and upon completion, The Lesters Arms will accommodate 60 covers and include a new lounge area.

The refurbishment is slated for completion in preparation for an early January launch event and the opening of The Lesters Arms.

He said: “I’ve been fortunate to enjoy some fantastic establishments in the UK and overseas and have taken lots of inspiration from all of them and poured it into The Lesters Arms, a place for people to socialise and enjoy a level of food and service they can’t get anywhere else. The site had been earmarked for new homes, but we’ve already lost too many pubs and restaurants in Wolverhampton and Staffordshire, and I didn’t want that to happen again. At the same time, we knew we had to create a venue that offered something different.

“In essence, we want to create a ‘favourite’ relaxed gourmet destination for people who enjoy life. The service will be warm, friendly, and attentive, the food and drink sourced from the finest local ingredients and there will be plenty of surprises along the way. We want people to remember their visit and return time and time again. We are passionate about where we come from and this will be reflected in the ever-changing, locally inspired menu and, importantly, in the community events that we will hold.”