A POPULAR pub in the centre of Dursley that has recently come under the control of a new owner has been named this year’s Gazette Pub of the Year for the Dursley, Berkeley and Wotton area.

The Kings Head was taken under the ownership of Martin Harries in December who was attracted by the town’s welcoming atmosphere.

Since then it has become a real community force, getting involved in a number of community projects and charity events, most notably with the group aiming to reinvigorate Dursley Carnival, a group which Martin chairs and its donation to help install CCTV cameras at Breakheart Quarry.

Minimal changes have been made on the inside of the pub since Martin took it over, but an overhaul of its menu to focus on providing traditional English meals has proven a big hit with visitors and with dozens of voters who chose the Kings Head as their pub of the year.

“I’m shocked and surprised, to be honest,” he said after being told of his success. “I never expected that we would win.

“When I took over the pub in December I came in as an outsider as I wasn’t local but everyone has been really nice and supportive of what we do.

“It means a lot, being new and not knowing a lot of people before I arrived, that we won the competition.” Martin will now have the opportunity to represent the Kings Head at Parliament where he will meet Stroud MP Neil Carmichael and have a beer of their choice sold in the Parliament bar. 

Before choosing to take over the reins at the Kings Head, Martin had considered a number of other pubs.

“I liked that it is situated in a nice little market town in a friendly community,” he told the Gazette.

“I had a look at a lot of pubs but this one stood out, it just had the right feel.”
Based in Parsonage Street, the pub has undergone a rapid transformation in its 11 months under Martin’s ownership becoming a real community hub at its location right in the centre of the town.

The pub employs nine members of staff, including Martin’s son, who works on the bar.

It is not just the food which is proving a big hit with the public, however. Every Saturday night punters are treated to live musical entertainment or an in-house DJ.

For more information about the Kings Head and upcoming events visit its website thekingsheaddursley.co.uk or Facebook page at facebook.com/KingsHeadGL11.