The north Essex-based Flying Trade Group has expanded its leisure operation with the addition of the Bricklayers public house in Colchester.

East Anglian Daily Times: The Bricklayer's Arms in Colchester which is due to reopen next week following refurbishment. Picture: John HillierThe Bricklayer's Arms in Colchester which is due to reopen next week following refurbishment. Picture: John Hillier (Image: Archant)

The north Essex-based Flying Trade Group has expanded its leisure operation with the addition of the Bricklayer’s Arms in Colchester.

The Harwich-based group has purchased the freehold of the pub, in Bergholt Road, from Southwold brewer Adnams for an undisclosed sum and has temporarily closed the venue for refurbishment.

It is due to reopen at 6pm on Friday, January 26, with a focus on “hearty traditional food” alongside a range of real ales and guest beers.

Suki Dulai, chief executive of Flying Trade Group, said: “We are delighted to bring the Bricklayers into our portfolio and support yet another great local business which has big potential.

East Anglian Daily Times: Suki Dulai, chief executive of the Flying Trade Group. Picture: COLIN JOLIFFESuki Dulai, chief executive of the Flying Trade Group. Picture: COLIN JOLIFFE (Image: Archant)

“Our aim is to offer fantastic food and specialist real ale along with ever changing guest beers to give our customers real choice.”

The Flying Trade Group is the parent company behind Surya Foods (a leading supplier of world foods including the Laila rice brand), Surya Hotels and Flying Trade Leisure.

Surya Hotels includes The George in Colchester, which has just received the go-ahead for a major £10m refurbishment, Great Hallingbury Manor, near Stansted, The Mill in Sudbury, the Kingscliff Hotel in Holland-on-Sea and a number of Dragonfly Hotel sites, including the Colchester Dragonfly.

Flying Trade Leisure’s venues include the Tom Peppers pub on Clacton-on-Sea’s seafront, a site which also includes The Cellar bar and The Loft night club, the Liquor Lounge, also in Clacton, and the Captain Fryatt guesthouse and the Laila Grill in Harwich.

It has also recently invested in a central Colchester coffee house/archaeological exhibit, the Claudius Gateway Museum, including remnants of the ancient Roman temple of Claudius, from which all proceeds go to good causes through the Flying Trade Group’s company charity, World Food Aid.