Hanwell’s Duke of York pub, which has been closed since October 2025, is to undergo a £485,000 refurbishment starting next week (2 February 2026), and is set to reopen at the end of March 2026.
The revamp is being carried out by Heineken-owned Star Pubs and the pub’s new licensees, local residents Erich and Lisa von Gehren, who say it will reopen as a family- and dog-friendly local serving food described by the operators as affordable, gastro-quality.
The refurbishment will include a redesigned layout with a sports zone, bar and lounge, alongside new lighting and furniture and upgraded toilets. Historic images of Hanwell and old maps will be displayed on the walls. Outside, the pub is due to be repainted in deep green and cream, with seating increasing to 84 across the beer garden and frontage.
Mr Von Gehren said the couple wanted the Duke of York to be a neighbourhood pub with a British menu. He said: “Living locally, we have an appreciation of what the area needs – somewhere that you can take young children for a Wednesday evening meal, enjoy a Sunday roast or take your dog after a walk in the nearby park.”
Food will be served at lunch and in the evening from Wednesday to Sunday, with lighter dishes also available. Mr Von Gehren said much of the menu would be made from scratch using British ingredients, including curing salt beef in-house, culturing and maturing butter, and making condiments such as mayonnaise and tomato ketchup.
The couple also plan barista-style coffee and a range of drinks including cask and craft ales, premium lagers and ciders, wine, cocktails and premium spirits, including locally sourced gin. They said the relaunch would create new jobs.
Plans for the venue include a pub quiz, darts, live music and screening live sport on Sky, with regulars invited to help shape the programme. Mr Von Gehren added: “We are keen that regulars have a say on what activities the pub should host.”
Star Pubs investment manager Nick Paul said: “Erich and Lisa have run everything from a fast-food outlet to a Michelin starred restaurant. They bring with them invaluable local knowledge, a passion for hospitality and a real community spirit.”
