Premium pub and hotel operator, Young’s, will be opening its first site in Berkshire at The Lexicon Bracknell, the £240 million retail and leisure regeneration scheme which will open in Bracknell town centre in September 2017. Young’s will open in The Bull, a Grade II listed public house dating from the 1300s, where it will offer its award- winning food and drink. It will be the only pub to stand at the heart of the transformed town centre.
Young’s has decided to retain the pub’s name as ‘The Bull’ to preserve its heritage as one of Bracknell’s oldest and best loved buildings. Having stood vacant for a number of years, it is currently undergoing a substantial refurbishment, as part of the wider urban regeneration of Bracknell town centre, to restore the building to its former glory, whilst adding a modern twist in keeping with the contemporary new town centre.
Richard Poyser, Leasing Manager for Legal & General, said:“Young’s is an excellent addition to The Lexicon Bracknell’s wide menu of restaurants and cafés, following hot on the heels of Patisserie Valerie and Bill’s Restaurant. The refurbishment and extension of The Bull has transformed the existing building into a landmark for the new town centre, and we wanted a standout occupier to take this space. Young’s has an impressive, high quality offer, which will appeal to Bracknell’s affluent catchment.”
The characterful pub has stood for over seven hundred years, and has elements dating from the 14th, 15th and 20th centuries respectively. It will now benefit from the addition of a large south-facing terrace, private dining facilities on the first floor and a contemporary, glass fronted extension to the rear. These old and new elements combine to provide a physical link between the historic pub and the new town centre. The extension of the building will bring the total space to 6,545 sq ft, spread over two floors.
Patrick Dardis, Chief Executive of Young’s, commented: “We are delighted to be opening our first pub in Berkshire at the heart of this exciting development. Our pubs are carefully designed to be a venue for every occasion, be it a family meal or a catch up with old friends over a few beers, and we are sure that this carefully restored building with such a rich history will be the perfect location for our high quality food and drink offer.”
Young’s will join a host of other F&B tenants that have taken space in The Lexicon, including Bills’s Restaurant, Patisserie Valerie, Nando’s, wagamama, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Carluccio’s and Chimichanga, plus a new state-of-the-art 12-screen Cineworld. The introduction of the restaurants into the town will transform its night-time economy and food offering throughout the day, creating a new social and cultural heart for the region.
In addition to casual dining choices, The Lexicon Bracknell has also attracted top fashion brands, such as Next, H&M, River Island, L’Occitane, Fat Face, Topshop, Topman, Marks & Spencer and Primark. The transformed town centre will be home to the first new build, full line Fenwick in 14 years, in an 80,000 sq ft anchor store.
Jessica Berney, Head of UK Retail at Schroder Real Estate, commented:“Young’s will strengthen The Lexicon’s casual dining offer, and bring something new to the town centre. The Bull is a celebrated part of the borough’s heritage and, when opened later this year, will provide an iconic heart for The Lexicon Bracknell.”