Russell Brand’s dilapidated pub is set to reopen after never pouring a single drink

Russell Brand’s rundown, neglected pub is finally set to open again. For the past five years, the abandoned building has stood unkempt and unused, but now Russell Brand’s former pub is preparing to welcome customers once more. The now-convicted rapist, 51, bought The Crown Inn in Pishill, Oxfordshire, in December 2021 for £850,000 before selling it in April 2026.

During Brand’s ownership, the 17th-century pub never poured a single pint, as he reportedly hoped to turn the garage into a “conspiracy hub” for recording his podcast. His plans, however, never came to fruition. The disgraced sex offender ran into planning disputes and angered local residents, and the project never got off the ground.

Now behind bars after being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, committed between 2004 and 2009, the fate of the pub is hardly Brand’s biggest concern. But after being sold to John Bloomer for £975,000, the 600-year-old property is now in the final stages of its renovation. The Crown Inn has announced that it will reopen to the public on December 5, following a “short winter break.” Bloomer and his wife, Jane, previously ran a popular pop-up at the pub’s thatched barn over the summer while the rest of the property was being refurbished.

The main building is now being finished, with the inn’s website stating: “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 also outlines what visitors can expect.

At present, the “timber-framed barn with soaring ceilings” is open for brunch, lunch, and drinks. 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 feature “outdoor sauna circuits, ice baths, and forest bathing.” Bloomer also plans to launch The Cottage, an “intimate luxury accommodation” described as the “perfect bridal suite or romantic escape among the hills.” Where Brand failed, Bloomer has also introduced a “sound-insulated sanctuary” overlooking the once-overgrown gardens, which he says will be used for “wellness retreats, mindful movement, and focused corporate gatherings.” It seems the new owner wants to distance the property from Brand altogether and give it a completely fresh identity. Online, the business says the venue 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,” likely a nod to Bloomer’s wife’s Thai heritage.

The couple say they “can’t wait” to welcome customers to their cosy pub, and have thanked early visitors for helping shape its “founding season.” A new chapter for The Crown Inn will likely be welcomed by local residents, especially after many said the pub had “ripped the heart out” of the community when Brand allowed it to fall into disrepair. After failing to secure permission to turn the pub into a base for his Rumble pod, Brand withdrew his applications. South Oxfordshire Council had called the plans “unsuitable,” while locals feared the recording studio would create a “nuisance.” He later moved to Miami, leaving the building “in limbo.” Last year, Caroline Dempsey told Metro: “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 had promised to make things “cool” with his ideas, but when those promises weren’t delivered, residents wanted answers. “We are not happy, and we need a change,” she said.

“It’s getting untidy; it needs attention. It was a destination people would head to – we don’t want it to be an eyesore.” Another local said Brand initially seemed “charming” when he arrived in the countryside, but their view changed when he failed to be open about 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, though he is expected to serve roughly seven years.

It is believed the disgraced actor and comedian is already facing “abuse” from other inmates because of his profile and the seriousness of his crimes. A prison source told the Daily Mail that he was “horrified” on arrival at his new home for the foreseeable future, and has been warned to “be careful” about 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 transferred to HMP Wakefield in the coming days, where convicted paedophile Ian Watkins was murdered.

Owners of The Crown Inn have been contacted for comment.