A landmark historic village pub in Wye has re-opened after being bought and refurbished by Contemporary Pubs, the award-winning family-run Kent pub operators.
Having closed its doors in February 2024, The King’s Head now offers a welcoming place for a drink and gastro food with a twist, using locally sourced food, beer and wine, in the centre of the popular village in the North Downs.
The purchase, refurbishment and renovation of The King’s Head has been a £1.5m investment by Contemporary Pubs, taking the company’s portfolio to four pubs in the county.
The King’s Head joins Contemporary’s three other pubs, including the Marquis of Granby at Alkham, The Tiger Inn in Stowting, and The King’s Arms in Elham. All three of its existing pubs have been crowned Kent Pub of the Year in the National Pub & Bar Awards.
Before officially opening its doors, Wye residents and local dignitaries were given a sneak preview and opportunity to meet the team over a glass of wine and canapes, all ahead of its grand opening on 24 July.
The Contemporary Pubs’ team, led by Will and Nadine Sheldon, alongside Executive Chef Steve Piddock and Head of Operations Hugh Thompson have renovated and redesigned the Grade-II listed pub having bought it in June 2024 from Shepherd Neame.
Contemporary Pub’s Managing Director, Will Sheldon, said: “A truly great village pub sits at the heart of its community. It is where people meet, celebrate, catch up with friends and family, and feel a genuine sense of connection with a place. We believe we will create that at The King’s Head.
“Since we acquired our first pub, the Marquis of Granby in 2019, we have successfully placed each of our pubs at the heart of their community. At a time when pubs are closing at a rate of more than 12 a week across the country, we’ve shown that by focusing on creating a great environment with good food and excellent service delivered by a great team, you can still make pubs work. We can’t deny that the hospitality industry is going through tough times, but our growth reflects how popular we have made our pubs, and why customers keep coming back.
“As a company we sensitively breathe fresh life back into much-loved pubs like The King’s Head. At the same time, we celebrate their heritage, protect their character and create warm, welcoming places that serve excellent local food and drink.”
As part of the refurbishment, the pub’s layout has been changed with the relocation of the bar. The walls have been taken back to the original brick and hardwood flooring installed and the décor reflects a contemporary Victorian inn. The entrance to the pub is now via the carriageway at the side of the building, and not from the front, freeing up space inside to offer dining for up to 60 people with a further 35 spaces outside.
With the pub in the village’s historic centre, the team worked closely with Ashford Borough Council’s Conservation Officer and planning team, and secured permission to demolish the former kitchen and outside toilets, with the customers’ toilets relocated to the first floor. A new extension is home to a state-of-the-art kitchen which connects the main building to the two-storey barn and provides space for a commercial walk-in fridge and staff changing facilities.
Behind the scenes, the pub has been totally rewired and replumbed, and everything previously gas-powered has been removed to improve its environmental performance. Upstairs the team is re-instating eight bedrooms, each with en-suite facilities, with the work due to be completed in 2027.
Nadine Sheldon added: “When we open the eight bedrooms next year, we are very confident that it will become a popular destination from which to explore and enjoy our beautiful Kent countryside and villages, before returning for a great evening meal in a welcoming environment.”
The King’s Head will employ 25 staff, taking the firm’s total number to 112.
Reflecting Contemporary Pubs' commitment to promoting talent from within, Harry Cox has been appointed Head Chef at The King's Head. Harry joined the company in 2019 as Sous Chef at The Marquis of Granby before progressing to Head Chef at The Tiger Inn, where he established a reputation for culinary excellence and innovation. Now taking the helm at The King's Head, Harry is widely regarded as one of Kent's most accomplished chefs, celebrated for creating many of the exceptional dishes that have become a benchmark within the Contemporary Pubs’ brand.
Harry will be joined by Will Thompson as General Manager, where he is leading the launch and establishment of the venue. Having successfully overseen the opening of The King’s Arms, it’s sister site three years ago, as well as running The Tiger Inn and Marquis of Granby, Will brings proven expertise in launching new hospitality destinations and building high-performing teams.
Although The King’s Head can trace its history back to 1678, it’s not the company’s oldest pub. That accolade goes to Grade-II listed King’s Arms in Elham which dates back to 1450 when King Henry VI was King of England.
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