Independent pub group Craft Locals Ltd opens the doors to its third site, The Rose & Crown, on Harefield Road, Rickmansworth, this Friday (22nd May).
The group, owned by Dan Fox, has recently strengthened its team with the appointment of Mitch Adams as operations director. Adams is a former pub operator and drinks industry professional. He joins at a pivotal moment as Craft Locals plans to scale beyond its existing two sites, The Grand Junction Arms in Tring, and The Red Lion in Chenies. There are ambitions to reach five sites within 12 months.
The Rose & Crown will be led day to day by general manager Sophie Clarke (pictured), with a focus on fresh, seasonal food, and a curated range of real ales and independent drinks.
To fund development of the pub’s beer garden, Craft Locals launched a community Crowdfunder with a £25,000 target. The campaign has raised £11,000 with one week remaining, and offers rewards designed to drive footfall and embed the pub in the local community from the outset. These include double-value food vouchers, a Sunday roast feast for four, and a year’s supply of sausage rolls.
“The Rose & Crown is a significant step for Craft Locals,” said Adams. “What we’re building is simple but increasingly rare: proper pubs, real ale, fresh food cooked with care, and teams that genuinely want to look after people.
“That’s what Craft Locals is about, and we’re only just getting started.”
