Chickpea Group to open first pub with rooms in Dorset

Southwest-based Chickpea Group is set to launch its first pub with rooms in Dorset next month.

The announcement comes roughly six months after the boutique hospitality operator opened its first pub in the county, the King’s Arms in Shaftesbury.

The upcoming Fleur de Lys Inn in Cranborne dates back to the 17th century and marks the group’s eighth venue.

The former village pub has undergone a six-month refurbishment to include nine new bedrooms complete with king size beds, Moroccan rugs, ensuite bathrooms with Land & Water amenities and eclectic artwork selected by Chickpea co-founder Tommy Tullis.

The pub itself will offer 80 covers for drinks and dining in addition to a private dining room for 12 and a 100-cover walled garden.

Diners can expect the likes of double smashburgers, handmade pies, fish and chips and Chickpea’s own Nole pizzas paired with a drinks list provided by Gardner and Beedle.

Ethan Davids, co-founder of Chickpea Group and 2022 Acorn Award winner, said: “We are so excited to be opening our first pub with rooms in Dorset. The Fleur de Lys is a lovely boozer in a pretty and thriving village and we’re very pleased to be re-opening it for the community and for visitors from further afield. It offers everything we look for in a Chickpea country pub - exposed beams, low ceilings, a number of fireplaces and quintessentially British charm.”

Overnight stays at the Fleur de Lys will be priced from £120 on a bed and breakfast basis.

Chickpea Group was founded by Ethan, his sister Jordan, and their schoolfriend Tullis. The trio took on their first pub in village of Zeals, Wiltshire in 2019.