A ROMSEY pub is set to reopen, which the new owners have dubbed an ‘historic 16th Century inn, reimagined for the 21st Century’.
After an extensive refurbishment, The Duke on the Test, formally known as The Dukes Head will be reopening to the public on Monday, July 4.
The Duke will also include 12 en-suite bedrooms which will open later in the month.
In further announcements, Mark Pinn has been appointed general manager having worked in some of the most prestigious local hotels including, The Concorde Club and The Bell Inn in the New Forest.
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A new head chef will be taking charge in the kitchen. Ventsi Cundev, who previously worked at the Rockingham Arms in Wellow, is looking forward to the new challenge.
The Duke dates back to 1583 when the first hostelry opened on the site. Since then, the pub has had a rich history until its closure awaiting rejuvenation in 2017.
The traditional pub has now been extensively refurbished and also extended to include 12 en-suite bedrooms and an inviting sunroom.
Customers will now be able to enjoy an extended bar and dining areas for over 90 covers, as well as outside patio space. Other features include a double aspect log burner, as well as a snug and library area. Many of the original features have remained including oak beams and an Inglenook fireplace.
Mark Pinn, general manager at The Duke, said: “We are all looking forward to the reopening and are recommending customers looking to experience the new Duke restaurant book to avoid disappointment.
“The exciting reality is we are now very close to bringing this much-loved, historic country inn back to life, which we are confident local people and visitors to the area looking for quality accommodation will support. We are creating something very special and look forward to welcoming back old regulars and new customers to The Duke.
“The Duke on the Test will be a wonderful place to meet, eat, drink and sleep in the heart of the Test Valley. We are a stone’s throw from the River Test which makes for a stunning location for customers. We are very dog-friendly in the bar with a stunning river walk just a few hundred yards from the bar. We will be serving delicious home-cooked gastropub dishes alongside local real ales and a fabulous selection of wines and spirits.
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“As members of Hampshire Fare, the emphasis will be to embrace all things from the Test Valley region – fresh produce, locally sourced. For example, we are hoping to use Chalk Stream Trout and the local Vineyards Black Chalk and Danebury for our wine list. We will also be exploring River Test Gin, whose gin won Best English London Dry in 2020.”
The Duke will be managed in conjunction with the hugely popular The Four Horseshoes in Nursling which also benefitted from a significant investment with a refurbishment and extension and successfully reopened in 2019.
More than 25 new jobs have been created for the re-opening and there are a number of roles still to recruit for part and full time positions – from a breakfast chef, waitress and kitchen porter roles.
For more information about roles at The Duke, contact hello@thedukeonthetest.co.uk.
To book a table call, 01794 377500.
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