Market Inn in Salisbury acquired by Chickpea Group

The Market Inn, at 16 Butchers Row, reportedly closed for a refurbishment on Saturday, January 27.

Wiltshire-based Chickpea Group announced on Monday, February 5, that it would be running the pub and hopes to reopen it next month.

The pub, which dates back to 1904, will have 60 seats inside and a further 80 outside, spilling onto Market Place.

Renovations will strip the pub back and reveal some of the building’s historic character.

Food is of great importance to the group and the team said they are excited to work with the "abundance of excellent local suppliers across the southwest".

Signs have gone up in the window of the Market Inn. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

The menu will be overseen by Executive Chef, Harry Russell, with the aim of providing a pared back menu of ‘classic pub bangers’.

There will be handmade pies, which are created from scratch at the group’s dedicated pie room in nearby Wilton, proper fish and chips with curry sauce and hearty bar snacks, including scotch eggs and Westcombe cheddar and cider rarebit

The bar will serve local ales, Guinness (providing everyone with the opportunity to split the G), a concise wine list and Rude Giant lager.

The Market Inn also sits next to the group’s pizza restaurant, Nole on the Square, and punters will be able to order a pizza from next door to takeaway and enjoy inside the boozer.

Director Ethan Davids said acquiring Market Inn was "a no-brainer" as it had been on Chickpea Group's hit list since nole opened.

"I've always loved the Market Inn. This is a slightly different model to the pub we are used to opening because most of our boozers are destination food spots in the countryside," he added.

Directors of the Chickpea Group Tommy Tullis, Jordan and Ethan Davids. (Image: Ed Schofield)

Mr Davids, who runs the business alongside his sister Jordan and friend Tommy Tullis, was named Young Entrepreneur 2023 at the Wiltshire Life Awards.

Pubs owned by the Chickpea Group have also been critically acclaimed, with The Bell and Crown, Zeals, being crowned the Sunday Times' Pub of the Year 2023.

"We love taking a punt on opportunities - getting our hands on places that would otherwise be closed - and we hope a pared-back approach to our normal pub food offer will be well received," Mr Davids said.

Chickpea also runs The Silver Plough, Pitton; The Queen’s Head, Broad Chalke; The Grosvenor Arms, Hindon; The Pembroke Arms, Wilton and The Dog & Gun, Netheravon.