UK: Chestnut Group has announced the acquisition of The Cricketers, owned by Trevor and Sally Oliver, parents to celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.
The two decided to retire earlier this year after 44 years of running the successful Clavering country inn.
The Cricketers is famous for being the childhood home of Jamie Oliver, and one of his major inspirations for pursuing a career in cuisine. In its heyday, it was a pioneer of the Pub Dining experience and still maintains that reputation to this day.
Trevor Oliver said of the decision: “We have had an amazing time running the inn, which has been our home for the last 44 years. We brought up our children, trained and supported hundreds of staff in the hospitality sector and made many friends for life.
He continued: “But with a great team and strong support from our loyal customers in place, we felt it was the right time to move on.”
This acquisition marks another success for Chestnut, which recently appointed Henry Fairbanks as its new COO. The group recently completed a major renovation of its Suffolk Coast property, The Wesselton Crown.
Philip Turner, the founder of Chestnut, said: “We are delighted to have acquired The Cricketers, an inn we’ve wanted to add to our growing collection for some time. The way the business is managed – with a strong emphasis on good quality food with accommodation – makes it a perfect fit for our collection.”
