The Stag in Fleet Road was independently owned by brothers Jonathan and Andy Perritt for 17 years but was sold to Young’s last August.
The pub chain, which runs 280 locals in London and the south east, has ploughed money in the Victorian boozer, whose fans included DJ Edith Bowman, TV presenter Laura Whitmore and Hollywood director Tim Burton.
They offered a sneak peek on Instagram of the new food and drink offer and refurbished bar and beer garden which reopens on January 22.
The downstairs bar has been revitalised with original features such as the mounted stags on the walls, etched mirrors, and open fireplaces.
There’s now a bar out in the large beer garden with outdoor screens for live sports fixtures such as the Six Nations rugby.
A new garden room with cobblestone floors, fireplace and retractable awnings will be available to book for birthdays and family celebrations.
And ‘Upstairs at The Stag’ is a private event space across three connected areas with kitchen area complete with vintage fridge and a butcher’s block for food and drinks packages, cosy ‘living room’ for catching up, and an outside terrace for mingling.
Young’s say regulars will still find a classic British boozer with a rotating line-up of craft beers on tap and a seasonally changing martini menu.
Expect ales on tap such as Pretty Decent Beer, Verdant, and Deya, alongside favourites Guinness, Asahi and Modelo and an all-day menu which promises a fresh spin on pub classics such as a tear-and-share ‘Stag Bag’ (a nod to the Irish spice bag), rotisserie chicken dishes, and the Stag chicken wings.
At lunchtime Heath walkers and staff from the Royal Free can pop in for a toastie, while on Sundays the pub’s roasts are back with all the trimmings.
Posting on Instagram in September the new managers wrote: “As we all know the best things come to those who wait (we promise it’ll be worth it). We’ll be closed for a short while to give the pub some TLC inside and out, especially that brilliant garden.
“Reopening in the New Year, refreshed and ready – we look forward to meeting all the loyal locals and raising a glass to the same Stag, with a fresh touch.”
Regulars responded with one writing: “Please don’t change the bar it’s perfect as it is.”
While another wrote: “Please keep the same menu and roast, don’t make it like every other pub.”
Multiple posts begged them to keep the chicken wings and vegan cauliflower wings – with one starting a hashtag ‘save the wings’.
It seems the management have listened with “multiple flavours confirmed.”
The Stag is at 67 Fleet Road, London NW3. www.thestagnw3.com
