Last Tuesday, we proudly opened our pub The Coat & Bear, which is the 27th Heartwood Inn and Heartwood’s fourth pub with rooms. Our guests were welcomed by CEO Richard Ferrier, who shared the story behind our pub’s thoughtfully chosen name, inspired by Newbury’s famous 1811 Coat and a certain beloved bear… The official opening was marked by our town’s Mayor Cllr Andy Moore OBE, who praised our contribution to the growth and development of Newbury and ceremoniously cut the ribbon alongside Rich.

After the ribbon-cutting, excited locals and nearby businesses were invited to enjoy a celebratory glass of bubbly, a hearty lunch, and the lively tunes of the fabulous Polka Dots Trio.

To mark the occasion, our talented bar team created a special treat for the occasion: a limited-edition Marmalade Sandwich cocktail, crafted in honour of a certain bear-y famous friend now residing nearby. Following the installation of a Paddington Bear bench just a short walk from our pub (read more here) – an homage to Newbury-born author Michael Bond (also honoured in our pub signage) – guests eagerly enjoyed this cocktail, which is still available to PAW-chase! 

Guests also toured several of our beautiful, newly refurbished rooms, including Heartwood’s first-ever “Grand Room,” our grandest room to date! With over 150 bedrooms now in the Heartwood Inns family, this milestone marks a proud achievement for us in 2024.

A huge thank you to all who joined us and best of luck to General Manager Dan and The Coat & Bear team who are excited to welcome the rest of the community to our gorgeous new pub with rooms.