Simon Rogan surrenders lease on Pig & Whistle pub

Simon Rogan will not renew his agreement with Robinson Brewery to run the the Pig & Whistle pub in Cartmel, Cumbria.

The Michelin-starred chef, who last year launched Fera at Claridges, said that his core focus was food and that the pub didn't fit his business mix.

Rogan and his partner Penny Tapsell acquired the lease on the Pig & Whistle in September 2012. At the time they planned to run it for locals and visitors to nearby L'Enclume who were looking for a drink.

Rogan said: "It has lots of charm, it's small and quaint and when it came up for grabs we felt we had to have it. And best of all, it's just a stone's throw away from our own front door."

But with other commitments to consider, including the planned opening of two more restaurants this year, the couple have announced that they have given six months' notice to Robinson Brewery.

Rogan said: "It has been great fun having a local pub, but we have realised that our core business is about restaurants with a strong food focus, and not in the pub sector."

He added that where possible the Pig & Whistle team would be absorbed into other Rogan businesses.

Simon Rogan to open two new restaurants this year >>

MasterChef pop-up project leaves BaxterStorey £400,000 light >>