A local family-run hospitality group in Chew Valley have taken on a brand new venture by adding The Pelican Pub in Chew Magna to their portfolio. TV chef and Great British Menu contestant Josh Eggleton and his sister, Holly, who run The Pony Chew Valley and The Pony Group, have joined forces with life-long school friends and fellow publicans, Lottie and Josh Bryant – also siblings – to launch the new addition to the popular hospitality group.
Sitting in the heart of the pretty village on the edge of the Mendips, the project will be completed in two phases, beginning with the opening of the ground floor pub on November 15, to ‘bring this popular watering hole back to the local community’. However, the team say they have bigger plans for the site, with the addition of ten bedrooms currently in progress and set to launch in the spring/summer of 2025.
The Pelican will form an extension of its sister restaurant, The Pony – which is just a five minute drive, or 40 minute walk across the fields – and will be ‘very connected’ once the rooms launch. Holly Eggleton will be overseeing the room development and guest experience, with the idea being that overnight guests will be able to move between both venues ‘seamlessly’.
There will also be an addition of bicycles and a complimentary shuttle bus service. The team plan to build experiential stay packages around The Pony’s restaurant, gardens and Cookery School, ‘so that guests can have real variety and immersion during their stay, while also being encouraged to explore the scenic Chew Valley – a hidden gem of North Somerset‘.
Josh and Holly Eggleton say: “We have always wanted to have accommodation as part of The Pony family, it’s been an aspiration of ours for years and we’ve kept a lookout for the right location.
“We used to go to The Pelican as kids and have fond memories of it, so it’s a natural extension for us to give it a new lease of life while growing The Pony experience beyond the restaurant.”
The Pelican has been an inn or hotel in some form since it was first established in 1615. The team say they have worked hard to restore and renovate the entire property, while connecting the main pub to a barn that was formerly a private dining and events space.
They’ve worked with a local architect and Josh Bryant’s own construction company to extend the pub into a glass room with herringbone terracotta floor tiles, and space for tables and chairs, creating two seating areas. The main bar benefits from an open fire, tall windows and wooden shutters, as well as a large open bar with stools.
The walls will be lined with local vintage photos showcasing moments of Chew Magna’s history. The exterior has also been painted in a dark green, and the courtyard to the rear is soon to have planters and outside seating.
Lottie and Josh Bryant say: “Having run a pub in the valley for the past five years, we’re excited to be teaming up with old friends to bring something new to Chew Magna. We share Josh and Holly’s love for hospitality and for the Chew Valley area, so teaming up on this project has been the most rewarding experience and we can’t wait to welcome people through the doors.”