The Team Behind The Bull In Charlbury Is Opening A Pub In Marylebone
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50 minutes ago
Say hello to London's newest gastropub
Public House Group has become known for its excellent gastropubs, from the Cotswolds’ buzziest food spot The Bull in Charlbury to Notting Hill favourite The Pelican. And now the trio behind it – Phil Winser, James Gummer and Olivier van Themsche – are expanding the group further with the launch of The Hart, a new pub in Marylebone.
The Hart Is London’s Latest Gastropub
Set to open on the corner of Chiltern Street and Blandford Street this October, The Hart is taking over a venue previously known as The Flowerhouse. It’s in prime position, perched beside the Wallace Collection, and nextdoor to celebrity hotspot Chiltern Firehouse, which is currently closed following a fire. Named after the Hart family, who ran a pub on the site back in the 1840s, it will follow a similar format as its sister venues: a food-focused pub spotlighting British farmers and seasonal produce.
On the ground floor, you’ll find a classic pub vibe with bar stools and booths, serving British beers like Portobello Pilsner and Allsopp’s, and traditional bar snacks – think pork scratchings, chicken liver toast and pork pies. Upstairs will have more of a dining room feel, complete with an open kitchen, where the chefs will cook up nostalgic comfort food. A meal could kick off with crab cakes, ahead of steak and potatoes, followed by banoffee pie for dessert. All food within Public House Group’s venues comes from farms and growers that channel regenerative agriculture, a holistic approach to farming designed to work in harmony with nature.
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Interiors will follow the group’s signature style: timeless and understated, with Victorian-style partition screens, hand-aged wood panelling, scalloped banquettes and gas fires.
‘We’re excited to be opening in Marylebone this month and look forward to getting to know our new neighbours,’ says James. ‘The Hart is different from our previous venues as we’re surrounded by offices. We will continue to serve classics using quality British produce, but you will also find some lighter options on the menu for the lunchtime crowd – from soups and salads to tarts and kedgeree.’
Public House Group
Friends Phil, James and Olivier founded their first venue in 2022, Notting Hill pub The Pelican, which quickly became a local favourite. The following summer, they opened The Bull, a pub-with-rooms in the chocolate-box town of Charlbury, which is lauded around the UK for its food offering – as well as its quintessential Cotswolds vibe. It has also garnered something of an A-list following, attracting the likes of Robbie Williams, Ellen DeGeneres, Princess Eugenie and local Jeremy Clarkson in recent months.
Food at The Pelican
Public House Group’s fast-expanding portfolio also includes The Hero in Maida Vale, and the newest: The Fat Badger, perched above Canteen (an Italian restaurant also run by the group) on Goldborne Road. There has been a lot of buzz about The Fat Badger since opening – in part due to the layer of mystery surrounding it. You won’t find a menu online, instead there’s a set menu featuring three snacks, a starter, main and dessert for £95pp.
All three of the group’s founders have a background in hospitality. Phil opened top New York restaurant The Fat Radish, while James worked as maître d’ of The Wolseley, going on to open 7 Saints in Notting Hill in 2018. Olivier, meanwhile, worked for Institut Bonheur, an agency creating events for the likes of Rolex and Cartier, as well as launching two venues: les Jardins de Bagatelle and Cirque Bonheur in Paris.
Each looks after different elements of Public House Group: Phil leads on design, James oversees day-to-day operations, and Olivier runs business and acquisitions.
The Hart will open in October 2025 at 56 Blandford St, London W1U 7JA, thehartw1.com
