Round Oak pub near Merry Hill to close for £500k refurbishment
Round Oak pub to close for £500k refurbishment

The Round Oak Stonehouse, a popular pub and restaurant near Merry Hill, will close after service today (Tuesday October 20) for a £500,000 complete overhaul. The venue is set to reopen at noon on Friday November 13, with social media star Joshua Wyer, known online as Bargains With Josh, marking the occasion.

Refurbishment details and new layout

The venue on Merry Hill will undergo complete re-decoration inside, with the restaurant lowered so that the entire space is on one floor. The focus will shift to dining, with one function room being repurposed to extend the dining room, leaving two function rooms available for events.

Upon reopening, a new menu will be launched alongside the festive menu, while the popular carvery will continue to be offered. The refurbishment aims to enhance the dining experience and modernise the pub's interior.

New management and team changes

New general manager John Griffiths, who previously worked at venues including The Glassworks pub in Stourbridge and Brinton Arms in Stourport, took over the role two weeks ago. The 45-year-old brings over 25 years of experience as a pub manager.

Griffiths said: "I've been a pub manager for over 25 years. I wanted a fresh challenge - everything's been fantastic so far and we are really looking forward to reopening in November."

Longstanding general manager Brett Weaver has been promoted to area manager as part of the changes.

Soft opening and booking information

Interested customers can book online for the Round Oak's soft opening on the evening of Thursday November 12, with 25 per cent off all mains. Booking is essential as places are limited for the preview event.