The Old King’s Head in Kirton to re-open with new owners
The new owners of a popular 400 year-old village pub hope to ‘pump the life back into it’ as they prepare to re-open it to the public.
After undergoing a substantial refurbishment, The Old King’s Head in Kirton is preparing to enter a new chapter later this summer.
With help from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Mark and Katharine Nundy, who live in the village, have turned the building into a new-look nine-bedroom boutique hotel with a cafe, courtyard, function barn and on-site manager’s accommodation.
The couple said: “We feel incredibly lucky to take on this beautiful building and bring it back into the everyday lives of people in Kirton.
“As residents with a long-standing commitment to Lincolnshire food, farming and hospitality, our aim is to create something welcoming, meaningful, and proudly rooted in the community.”
“From food festivals and live music to weddings and weekend brunch, we want The Old King’s Head to be a place full of life once again.”
The treasured 16th-century building – which was previously known as The Swan – has stood in the village for more than 400 years and was previously an inn, brewery, home and a pub.
Heritage Lincolnshire, which is a charitable trust, partnered with Poyntons Chartered Surveyors in Boston and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, to support the site’s next chapter.
Heritage Lincolnshire had transformed the venue into a bed and breakfast complete with cafe and function room, which opened to the public in 2021 — but this business closed due to ‘rising costs’ and the new team have picked up the baton to keep the venue alive.
As a result of the hard work by the Architectural Heritage Fund and Investors in Lincoln, The Old King’s Head has been given a new lease of life.
Tracy Stringfellow, Chief Executive of Heritage Lincolnshire said: “Saving The Old King’s Head has been a labour of love, not just for us as a charity, but for everyone who supported the project from the beginning.
“We are excited about this new partnership with Mark and Katharine, who bring energy, expertise, and deep roots in the local area.
“This is exactly what we hoped for—heritage secured, and a community asset reawakened for the future.
“We are deeply grateful to the exceptional team at the Old King’s Head and to all our supporters, including the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Architectural Heritage Fund, and Investors in Lincoln – their belief in this project has made this bright future possible.”
James Fairman, Managing Director of Poyntons Chartered Surveyors said: “It’s been a privilege to be part of this journey.
“What Heritage Lincolnshire has achieved here is extraordinary—they’ve not only saved an important building but created a brilliant platform for long-term success.
“Mark and Katharine are exactly the right people to carry that forward, and I think the people of Kirton are going to be delighted with what comes next.”
It is hoped customers will be welcomed back in July once the finishing touches of the renovation are complete.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below…
