Celebrities Raise a Glass to Pub Ownership Across the UK
From Daniel Craig's haunted London boozer to Jeremy Clarkson's Cotswolds inn, stars are investing in the UK's hospitality scene.
A growing number of celebrities are venturing into the hospitality industry, acquiring and investing in pubs across the United Kingdom. The trend sees actors, musicians, and television personalities adding pub ownership to their diverse portfolios, offering a unique blend of their public personas and traditional British establishments.
James Bond actor Daniel Craig recently joined this trend by co-purchasing The Horseshoe, a 250-year-old pub in Clerkenwell, London. Craig plans to refurbish the historic building but has indicated it will remain a traditional pub, not a modern gastropub. The pub is known for a resident ghost in its cellar, which Craig humorously noted might require a pint left out for the spirit.
Former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson acquired The Farmer's Dog in the Cotswolds in 2024. This pub focuses on an all-British menu that supports local farmers, and it features Clarkson's own brand of beer, Hawkstone. Clarkson has reportedly expressed interest in opening a pub abroad in the future.
Fellow Top Gear alumnus James May is also a co-owner of The Royal Oak in Salisbury. May invested in the 18th-century inn in 2020 to prevent its closure. He has described the pub as self-sufficient, with welcoming staff and a balance between quality and price. The Royal Oak serves seasonal dishes made with local produce and offers a wide selection of drinks.
Actor Sir Ian McKellen is the proprietor of The Grapes, an establishment with a 500-year history located near Canary Wharf in London. McKellen purchased the pub 15 years ago, and it is noted that Charles Dickens is said to have visited the site. The Grapes serves traditional pub fare and hosts a weekly pub quiz.
Filmmaker Guy Ritchie owns Lore of the Land in Fitzrovia, London. Ritchie, known for films like "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels," bought the pub in 2018 and opened it in 2019. The establishment offers its own branded beer, Gritchie, along with a curated selection of other beverages.
Singer-songwriter James Blunt owns two pubs. He and his wife purchased The Fox & Pheasant in Chelsea in 2017, transforming it into a local favorite that brews its own ale. Blunt also acquired The Carpenter's Arms in Hammersmith in July, which is slated to reopen in summer 2027.
TV personality Jodie Kidd co-owns The Half Moon in West Sussex, a Grade II listed building that she helped restore. The pub offers craft beers, cocktails, wines, and a menu featuring British ingredients.
Musician Rick Astley collaborated with Danish microbrewery founder Mikkel Borg Bjergsø to open Mikkeller bar in Shoreditch in 2018. The bar offers a wide selection of beers on tap, stemming from an earlier collaboration on a custom lager.
Cricketers Stuart Broad and Harry Gurney opened The Tap & Run in Melton Mowbray in 2018. The pub provides a food and drink menu, live music on Fridays, and a monthly pub quiz.