I am so pleased to announce that Freespirit pubs is coming to Ashby St. Ledgers this autumn! The local village & surrounding countryside is as charming as it gets. The picturesque, chocolate-box village is situated just five miles outside of Daventry and not far from the large settlement of Long Buckby. The village has been associated historically with the Gunpowder Plot, but it is now far more interesting for its beautiful collection of thatched cottages, the historic Manor House and the local ironstone Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as well as its recently refurbished pub The Olde Coach House Inn, a fifteen -bedroom property, equipped with an extensive dining area & traditional bar space.

Many locals will also know that the pub also boasts a large beer garden, which is perfectly suited to private events & large gatherings or for simply enjoying a cold beer in the sunshine! Freespirit pubs have recently completed the deal on this fine pub and restaurant with rooms, making it the sixth addition to the Freespirit family. The group plan to start work on a fresh redesign to get the site open before December, with several planned pop-up events designed to get to know local residents and guests.

Freespirit pubs is an award-winning collection of pubs and bars from across Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire, whose focus is on creating unique & memorable drinking & dining experiences for guests. Each pub has its own personality and undoubtedly compliments the area it serves, but they also boast the same Freespirit ethos of serving fresh, local, seasonal produce.

Mark Higgs, owner and director of The Freespirit pub company, wholeheartedly feels that The Old Coach House Inn will be an exciting and refreshing addition to The Freespirit Family. This will be the biggest site opening to date for Mark and his team and of course, they have great ambitions to open more sites within the next few years – “I’m super excited to finally get this deal done. We have been looking for a while for the next site, and I am confident we have found it. It ticks a lot of the boxes, now the fun begins in creating an amazing space and ambience for our team and guests to really enjoy!”

Sylwia at The Castle at EdgeHill

Mark has made it no secret that part of the Freespirit way is to recruit from within. As such, The Olde Coach House Inn will be run by Sylwia, who has previously worked at The Castle at Edgehill, The Red Lion at Hellidon and The Sun Inn at Hook Norton. Sylwia has a wealth of experience within the hospitality sector and has always been well-liked by her colleagues with her bubbly energy and infectious laugh. “I have been a part of the Freespirit family for three years now and I could not imagine being anywhere else. When I was asked to come on board with the new project, I felt super excited and nervous at the same time. I’ve always looked for new goals and challenges to make life more interesting. I believe that with the local support, we can make the coach house a raging success!”

Nestled in a chocolate-box village on the outskirts of Daventry, The Olde Coach House Inn is everything a vibrant village pub should be with its log fire, cosy traditional bar area and ample outdoor seating spaces. Whilst original beams and exposed brickwork ensure that our inn still whispers tales of its historic roots, this pub also sports a contemporary flare.

I am certainly looking forward to seeing what Mark, Sylwia and the Freespirit team bring to this wonderful, historic coaching Inn.