Key Points
- Apprentice contestant, Priyesh Bathia, is to open an Anglo-Indian pub near Stockwell tube station
- Lifesize animatronic elephant outside pub set to become Stockwell landmark
- Popular pub classics and Indian food both available
- Pub to open in time for World Cup
A candidate in this Apprentice series, Priyesh Bathia, is one of four partners behind the opening of an Anglo-Indian pub in Stockwell in June, which will see 25 new jobs created. The Royal Oak, located on Clapham Road minutes from Stockwell tube station, is to be renamed The Elephant and Barrel when it reopens following a £495,000 revamp by Star Pubs, Heineken’s pub business and its new leaseholders. The pub will be closed from 7th April until early June.
It will be the second London based Elephant and Barrel, the first having opened in Fulham two years ago.
The Stockwell Elephant and Barrel’s large outdoor space is ideal for the giant intstagrammable robotic elephant, which will be decorated with an English flag and jersey for the World Cup. Also outside will be a bar with six beers on tap and a food truck with a rotating menu of dishes including pizzas, jerk chicken, chicken tikka and seasonal specials. There will be outdoor seating for 198 at benches and tables with new high-level seating and festoon lighting. The exterior is being redecorated in a rich dark green and a new low wall with railings erected to demarcate the boundary.
Inside, the layout is being reconfigured with a new cellar with the latest dispense technology installed to ensure consistent superior quality draught beer, and cider, whilst reducing waste, water, and energy consumption.
The toilets are being relocated to the basement and given a smarter look. An accessible loo is also being installed on the ground floor.
The interior is being redecorated throughout in burgundy and green with painted wood panelling and feature wallpaper above creating a traditional look and feel. A new stripped back wooden bar servery, timber screens and hard wood flooring are also being fitted along with a mix of mid and high height furniture including bistro style tables and chairs.
The partners’ plans for The Elephant and Barrel are for it to be a hub for the community, with hot drinks in the day for people wanting to work from the pub. There will be quizzes and live music including opportunities for local musicians to perform, and live sports shown inside and outdoors on large HDTV screens.
The menu at The Elephant & Barrel celebrates both British and Indian cuisine, each delivered to an exceptional standard. Rather than fusing the two into a single hybrid menu, the Elephant & Barrel’s approach honours the integrity of both traditions, reflecting its aim to blend the culture of the British pub with the richness of Indian food.
Guests can expect thoughtful twists and creative touches, such as a chicken tikka and onion bhaji burger, alongside classic favourites and a Sunday Roast. Complementing the main kitchen, an outdoor food truck will feature a seasonally rotating menu, showcasing fresh, bold flavours throughout the year.
Located near Brixton Brewery, The Elephant and Barrel will stock many of the Brixton Brewery beers and craft ales including Beavertown neck oil, Brixton Reliance and Brixton Atlantic. There will also be Birra Moretti, Cruz Campo, Murphys and Timothy Taylor as well as premium ciders and a good selection of wines and soft drinks.
Priyesh’s experience running a mobile cocktail business is being tapped into with a selection of house cocktails and a small cocktail menu devised by Priyesh. There will also be a broader cocktail offer for private functions.
Says Priyesh:
“The Elephant & Barrel will be family and dog friendly, somewhere for the whole community to come together. We’re also keen to offer local social and sports clubs a private space to socialise in.
“Our signature animatronic elephant is currently being hand made in Kerala and will be delivered in time for our opening and a summer season of sport. Children and adults love taking selfies next to our elephants. They bring a smile to everyone. We can’t wait to open the doors and welcome customers to their new local which will combine the familiarity of a traditional English pub with a flavour of India.”
Says Dugald Macer, Star Pubs regional operations director:
“We’re delighted that Priyesh, Kumar, Yogesh and Karan are taking on what was The Royal Oak and to be investing with them to create a unique local in South London. Their Elephant & Barrel sites in Fulham and Felixstowe have been a great success I am confident it will be the same in Stockwell. The menu will provide the best of British and Indian dishes and there will be a wide selection of premium drinks, including Brixton Brewery favourites. I look forward to being one of the first to take a selfie next to the elephant when The Elephant & Barrel reopens!”
