Chestnut Inns, which opened its first pub – the Packhorse Inn at Moulton, near Newmarket, a year ago - has celebrated the launch of its second property.

The Rupert Brooke, at Grantchester, near Cambridge, has been extensively renovated since its acquision six months ago, including a new conservatory dining room.

Chestnut Inns founder Philip Turner said the aim was to replicate the Packhorse Inn’s emphasis on locally sourced food and great service.

The site features an open plan kitchen, a newly established conservatory dining room, an extensive bar area and an upper floor private dining “Club Room” with access to roof terraces. The gardens overlooking the Grantchester Meadows and the footpath to Cambridge will be restored for next spring.

The Rupert Brooke is managed by Paul Wicker who, following a career in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, has since 2005 specialised in hospitality management. He is no stranger to Cambridge, having been an assistant coach/backs coach of the Varsity winning Cambridge rugby team of 2006.

“It is great to be back in Cambridge and be involved in such an exciting new project,” he said. “This industry is hard work but the rewards are also there. I look forward to making sure that the Rupert Brooke lives up to the very high standards and expectations set by the Packhorse Inn.”

Paul has been assisted in re-launching the Rupert Brooke by the established team at the Packhorse Inn. The décor has been created by the owner’s wife, Amanda, who used to have her own shoe shop in Cambridge, Amanda Green Shoes, while the menu reflects executive chef Chris Lee’s signature pub classics but with a modern twist.

Mr Turner said: “It has been the most amazing year for Chestnut Inn and its first business The Packhorse Inn. In the last couple of months we’ve won ‘Best Food Pub’ for the East in the Great British Pub Awards; the Sunday Times highlighted us as one of 10 pubs or ‘boutique boozers’ in its Ultimate 100 British hotels feature; Sawday’s named us one of its three ‘Favourite Newcomers’ and to top it all, the Packhorse Inn was awarded 3AA Rosettes – putting us in the top three restaurants for Cambridgeshire and Suffolk according to the AA.

“To open our second business, the Rupert Brooke, on such a wave of success is really exciting. Of course it is going to be different to The Packhorse Inn but we have high expectations that it will prove a winner to both locals and visitors to Grantchester.”