With the project nearing completion and some aspects of the business now resumed, Henley-on-Thames-based hospitality operator Brakspear has revealed that it has appointed a new general manager for Cirencester's flagship hotel, The King's Head.

Matthew Cain will head up the group's acquisition,in the centre of Cirencester and was previously general manager at the Frogmill Inn in Andoversford. A spokesperson told Punchline-Gloucester.com that he will be taking up his new role in September.

They added: "We took over this landmark hotel in April and we are currently overseeing a comprehensive refurbishment to the ground floor public spaces including the bar, lobby and restaurant, formerly the MBB Brasserie."

Due for completion "late September", the restaurant is now open and is temporarily located on the first floor of the hotel's Assembly Room, which offers an adjoining outside terrace which has also now been fully refurbished. Additionally, a bar area now operates a full lunch and dinner menu.

Pledging to be more community orientated than before, the 66-room hotel says it will hold regular live music nights this summer. In the basement, the hotel's ancient vaulted cellars, dating from Roman times, will also be available for event hire.

The Kings Head is the latest edition to Brakspear's Honeycomb Houses managed house division and raises its tally to 120 pubs.

An impressive array of pins in the Cotswolds map include the Redesdale Arms Hotel, Moreton-in-Marsh, The Porch House and The Sheep in Stow-on-the-Wold, Egypt Mill at Nailsworth, The Frogmill Inn at Andoversford, The George Townhouse at Shipston-on-Stour and The Lion at Bicester.