Russell Brand’s rotting pub to reopen after never serving a single pint

Russell Brand’s run-down, neglected pub is finally going to open again (Picture: Reuters) For the last five years, it’s been unkempt and unused, but Russell Brand’s abandoned pub is finally going to reopen its doors. The now-convicted rapist, 51, bought The Crown Inn in Pishill, Oxfordshire, in December 2021 for £850,000 before selling it off in April 2026. Under Brand’s ownership, the 17th-century establishment never sold a single pint, as he intended to convert the garage into a ‘conspiracy hub’ for recording his podcast. Unfortunately for the sex offender, his attempts were unsuccessful, and he faced planning disagreements and the wrath of locals. Now behind bars after being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault committed between 2004 and 2009, what happens to the pub is the least of Brand’s worries. But after being sold to John Bloomer for £975k, the 600-year-old building is in the final stages of its revamp. Brand was sentenced to 10 years, six months behind bars this week (Picture: Jordan Pettitt/Press Association) The Crown Inn has revealed it will reopen to the public on December 5 following a ‘short winter break’. Bloomer and his wife, Jane, held a pop-up at the pub’s thatched barn in summer, which proved a hit while the rest of the building underwent refurbishments. The main area is now getting its finishing touches, with the inn’s website confirming: ‘We’re finishing the renovation of the main pub and reopen there on December 5, Thursday to Sunday. ‘Thank you for your fabulous support during our summer pop-up. Weddings and private events are still available.’ The website goes on to share details of what punters can expect. Currently, the ‘timber-framed barn with soaring ceilings’ is open for brunch, lunch, and drinks. He bought The Crown Inn in 2021 but faced several planning rows and backlash from locals (Picture: Reuters) Brand abandoned the countryside building before selling it in April (Picture: Reuters) Listed as ‘coming soon’ are The Pub, described as ‘a quintessential 15th-century coaching inn with low-beamed ceilings, inglenook fireplaces, and gastro-Thai fusion dining’, and The Wild Spa, which will have ‘outdoor sauna circuits, ice baths, and forest bathing’. Additionally, businessman Bloomer will launch The Cottage, described as ‘intimate luxury accommodation’ which is a ‘perfect bridal suite or romantic escape among the hills’. Succeeding where Brand failed, Bloomer has also introduced a ‘sound-insulated sanctuary’ which overlooks the previously overgrown gardens. He says this will host ‘wellness retreats, mindful movement, and focused corporate gatherings’. It appears the new landlord wishes to sever any connection to Brand and give the space a fresh feel, writing online that the establishment will ‘offer an experience that flows naturally between dining, celebration, rest, and renewal’. The pub will serve ‘English soul food that meets Thai artistry’, celebrating ‘the best of both worlds’, presumably in a nod to Bloomer’s wife’s Thai heritage. The convicted sex offender angered locals by letting his pub fall into disrepair (Picture: Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images) He is expected to remain behind bars for seven years of his sentence for sex crimes committed between 2004 and 2009 (Picture: Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images) The couple add that they ‘can’t wait’ to welcome customers to their cosy pub, thanking early visitors for playing a part in its ‘founding season’. A new era for The Crown Inn will presumably be warmly received by residents, given that they previously said it had ‘ripped the heart out’ of the local community when Brand left it to deteriorate. After failing to secure permission to transform the pub into a base for his Rumble pod, Brand withdrew his applications, which South Oxfordshire Council called ‘unsuitable’, and locals feared the recording studio would cause a ‘nuisance’. By doing so, he relocated to Miami and left the building ‘in limbo’, with Caroline Dempsey telling Metro last year: ‘It was the place we met and made contact; it kept us together. Now it is just sitting there, falling into disrepair. It’s such a shame.’ She added that Brand promised to make things ‘cool’ with his ideas, which, when not delivered, left people demanding answers. ‘We are not happy, and we need a change,’ she raged. ‘It’s getting untidy; it needs attention. It was a destination people would head to – we don’t want it to be an eyesore.’ John Bloomer, who bought the pub for £975k, said he ‘can’t wait’ to reopen in December (Picture: Reuters) Another local recalled Brand appearing ‘charming’ upon his arrival in the countryside, but their relationship ‘soured’ when he failed to be transparent with his plans. ‘We just wish he would sling his hook and let someone get on with running it as a pub again.’ This week, Brand began serving his 10-year, six-month sentence at HMP Wandsworth, which he is expected to serve roughly seven years of. It’s believed that the disgraced actor and comedian is already receiving ‘abuse’ from other inmates thanks to his status and the high-profile nature of his crimes. A prison source told the Daily Mail that he was ‘horrified’ upon arriving at his new lodgings for the foreseeable future, and he’s been warned to ‘be careful’ of how he behaves to avoid a beating. Brand, who has since been accused of sexual abuse and predatory behaviour by eight more women, is expected to be transported to HMP Wakefield, where convicted paedophile Ian Watkins was murdered, in the coming days. Deals of the Day The best Black Friday beauty deals on the Dr Barbara Sturm face cream and hyaluronic serum The best Black Friday sleep deals to upgrade your bedroom with Simba’s 33% off sale Why shoppers are rushing to snap up this 99p Audible deal before Christmas 14,500 five-star reviews later, this cult sleep spray is discounted for Black Friday Shoppers ditch expensive dental work for these £19.99 MySweetSmile whitening strips Owners of The Crown Inn have been contacted for comment. 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