The Lord Nelson in Oakham to reopen for two weeks over Christmas and New Year

A town centre pub will reopen for two weeks over Christmas before the new owner takes time to consider its long-term future.

The Lord Nelson in Oakham has been taken over by businessman Ryck Turner, who also owns the 17th century George Inn next door.

In October Mr Turner denied rumours that he was taking over the Lord Nelson, but has now announced plans to reopen it on Friday (December 20).

He said: “We are excited to add The Lord Nelson to our portfolio. We will reopen the pub as soon as we take ownership on Friday, with the aim of offering an excellent value-for-money drinks venue for the Christmas period.

“We will close again after New Year’s Eve while we consider the best use for the building in the longer term. We are looking at different options to make sure it is used to its full potential. This could include our team running the venue as a pub, leasing it to another pub operator, or looking at new ways to make use of the space.

“Until then, we hope people will enjoy spending time with family and friends in The Lord Nelson in the coming weeks.”

Ryck bought the neighbouring George Inn - formerly known as The Whipper-In Hotel - in 2023 and has invested millions of pounds to refurbish the building.

He said: “Through operating The George Inn our team has learned what people in and around Oakham are looking for in a food and drinks venue. When the opportunity arose to purchase The Lord Nelson, we were keen to act quickly. However, we will now take some time to ensure we have a business model in place to maximise the potential of this historic venue.”

The Lord Nelson will reopen at midday on Friday (20 December).